Essay ‘Discuss one or more biological explanations of aggression’. D2- Thursday 1 st October F1- Friday 2 nd October

Essay prep Using your given theory explain why The Kray twins were so aggressive Write on your whiteboards Neural Mechanisms Hormonal mechanisms Genetic Factors

How might these behaviours be explained by the evolutionary approach? 1)Men preferring younger women. 2) Parents worrying whether their children are eating enough. 3) Human's ability to guess what other people are feeling by looking at their facial expressions. 4) Fear of heights. 5) When a male lion takes over a pride, he will kill the existing cubs from the pride..

Watch the clip 07o3Ehttps:// 07o3E How does the link to Aggression Evolutionary theory

Sexual jealousy facts Jealousy is one of the top three reasons for non-accidental homicides (Harris 2004). Men who are responsible for homicides due to sexual jealousy normally lash out against their wives and sometimes their children too, do so after the woman tries to end the relationship (Wilson and Daly 1993). A common quote from jealous homicide killers that has been said is, “If I can’t have her nobody can.” Other frequent expressions husbands will use, proclaim that they will find their wives if they leave and kill them (Wilson and Daly 1993). In the immediate months after leaving their partner, women are at risk of attack from their ex-partner.

What would you do…. Answer the questionnaire

Analysis of data Averages Males Females A Sexual jealousy B Emotional jealousy C Sexual and Emotional jealousy

Are there gender differences in dealing with sexual jealousy? Weerth and Kalma (1993) asked students at a Dutch university to indicate how they would react if they learned their lover was having an affair with another person. Their results suggested that women experienced stronger feelings of anger at both their partner and rivals than do men and females were more likely to respond with verbal and physical abuse of their lover, whilst males were more likely to get drunk.

Discuss Why might there be differences between the sexual jealousy of women and men Link to the theory of evolution

Evolutionary explanations of sexual jealousy and infidelity For the species to continue, sex and breeding are essential. There are however, gender differences in knowledge, as to whether the offspring contains one’s genes. For females it is obvious that the child does contain their genes, but for males (especially before DNA testing) it isn’t. For this reason it is argued that men and women look for different qualities in their partners. For males it is crucial that their partner is faithful since if she isn’t and breeds with someone else, the male’s genes may not be passed on. This idea is thought to explain (BUT NOT JUSTIFY) why males put a high value on virginity and chastity and why some males may harm their partner’s child from a previous relationship.

Emotional vs Sexual infidelity Why a difference ? One explanation for why men are thought to be more concerned about sexual infidelity is based on the assumption that men can have sex without emotional involvement whilst for a woman; sex and emotional involvement are linked. Males would think that if their partner had sex with another man, this would also suggest an emotional link to the man and a potential risk of another man impregnating the woman. This is also thought to explain why females are more concerned about emotional infidelity since this poses the greater threat for being left alone. The theory suggests that if females are abandoned, they will not have a partner to protect them, provide resources and energy and hence could put their child at risk. For this reason female jealousy may lead women to attack any woman trying to “steal her man”.

Links to Aggression Mate- Retention Strategies Research argues that men have developed strategies to deter their mate from leaving or adultery Shackelford et al found a positive correlation between mate retention strategies and violent acts Must be mentioned when discussing aggression in AO1

Evolutionary explanation for jealousy leading to aggression AO1 Mate retention strategies are techniques used, such as holding hands in public, threatening violence to potential rivals or an unfaithful partner, that may have evolved because of sexual jealousy. The theory also suggests that if females are abandoned, they will not have a partner to protect them, provide resources and energy and hence could put their child at risk. For this reason female jealousy may lead women to attack any woman trying to “steal her man”. This is how infidelity and jealousy link to aggression.

Cultural Variations in Sexual Jealousy If sexual jealousy is a universal response why are there cultural differences in Relationship fidelity Importance of violence Levels of aggression in males

Culture Evolution cannot explain why some cultures require violence to attain social status, whereas in others it leads to irreparable reputational damage Buss & Shackleford, (1997)

Evaluation: IDA Approaches: Evolutionary Psychology There seems to be no doubt that sexual jealousy exists and that it can lead to aggression but does it have to be explained by evolution? Could any of the other approaches explain jealousy better?

IDA Evaluation: Approaches Evolutionary Approach Whilst it is mainly logical, how does killing your partner make evolutionary sense?

IDA Evaluation: Approaches Evolutionary Approach Why is it difficult to gain strong support for evolutionary explanations?

Reminder- homework Practice Essay For next Thursday/Friday