Preview

Evolutionary Perspective Of Aggression On Human Behavior

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1859 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Evolutionary Perspective Of Aggression On Human Behavior
REDUCTION IN AGGRESSION AND PEACE From the perspective of evolutionary psychology, aggression is not singular or unitary phenomenon. It represents a collection of strategies that are manifested under specific contextual conditions. Evolutionary psychologists attempt to understand human behavior by studying the role of evolutionary pressures on modern humans. One of the most interesting areas of study for evolutionary psychologists is human aggression. According to Live Science, humans are one of the most aggressive species on the planet. Paradoxically, humans are also one of the most compassionate species. This contradiction may arise from our evolutionary past. Evolutionary psychology provides a more complex interactions’ …show more content…
These include fertile land and access to fresh water, food, tools, and weapons. There are many means for gaining access to the valuable resources held by others, such as engaging in social exchange, stealing, or trickery. Aggression is also a means to co-opting the resources of others. Aggression to co-opt resources can occur at the individual or group level. At the individual level, one can use physical force to take resources from others. Modern-day Evolution and Human Awesion forms include bullies at school who take the lunch money, books, leather jackets, or designer sneakers from other children Childhood aggression is commonly about resources, such as toys and territory (Campbell, 1993). Adult forms include muggings and beatings as a means to forcibly extract money or other goods from others. The threat of aggression may be enough to secure resources from others, as when a child gives up his lunch money to prevent a beating or a small store owner gives mobsters money for “protection” to prevent his or her business from being ransacked. People, particularly men, often form coalitions for the purposes of forcibly co-opting the resources of others. Among the Yanomamo, for example, male coalitions raid neighbouring tribes and forcibly take food and reproductive-aged women. Throughout human recorded history, warfare has been used to co-opt the land possessed by others, and to the victors go the spoils. The acquisition of reproductively relevant resources through aggression could have selected for aggressive strategies when the benefits, on average, outweighed the costs in the currency of

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    2005. In this study of 560 women and 461 males all in committed heterosexual relationships…

    • 567 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In Natalie Angier's "Of altruism, Heroism, and Evolution's Gifts," she explains the various examples of human and animal selflessness- altruism. She uses examples and strategies to explore the evolutionary origin of selflessness in order to confirm that we are, by nature, ethical because it is in our greatest self interest to value altruism. Angier tries to assure a frightened post 9/11 audience that although humanity may act violently, it can still have faith in human…

    • 76 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    "Greed" is shorthand for the argument that participants in armed conflicts are motivated by a desire to better their situation, and perform an informal cost-benefit analysis in examining if the rewards of joining a rebellion…

    • 194 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    References: Alcock, John. (1978). “Evolution and Human Violence,” in L. L. Farrar, Jr. (ed.), War: A…

    • 9995 Words
    • 40 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The instinct theory of aggression states that aggression is natural and involves innate tendencies that are stable and enduring, meaning they are difficult to modify. It proposes the idea that aggression is a result of survival instinct to protect or survive. Aggression is said to occur in high arousal situations where stressful cues act as triggers for that aggression, often caused by others as a result of retaliation. However, not all people show aggression as a result of high arousal or stressful cues, so this theory lacks some validity when explaining aggression. Also, aggression is shown by different…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Another theory behind aggression is sexual selection, because in some cultures there are fewer females than males. In order for males to attract a female they must compete with each other, and one of the ways they do this is by taking part in war. Male warriors in traditional societies tend to have more sexual…

    • 625 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One social psychological theory of aggression is Bandura’s social learning theory, in which he combines both social and cognitive psychology in his social cognitive perspective of human behaviour. Bandura believed that behaviour was not only motivated by psychological factors but also by more socio-environmental factors. He argued that the individual and the environment were linked, something which he called reciprocal determinism. Bandura believed that the presence of a role model from whom behaviour could be imitated was the key part of the social learning theory, and that this role model would either be similar to the person imitating the behaviour (e.g. same age or gender) or is in a position of power (e.g. celebrities or parents). Despite this the individual imitating the behaviour still needs to have a level of self confidence in order to imitate, which Bandura referred to as self-efficacy.…

    • 731 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Aggression is the feeling of anger and hatred that may result in threatening or violent behavior. It is also a physical or emotional expression of the feelings of dissatisfaction arising out of the comparison between what people presently have and what they believe they should have, what they ought to have or what they believe is ideal. The theories of aggression assert that aggression is the inevitable result of frustration or conflict, they affirm that aggression results out of an innate instinct flowing towards destructive tendencies and maintain that aggression arises out of social dysfunction. According to Dollard (1939) the frustration-aggression theory of aggression asserts that aggression is always an inevitable result of frustration.…

    • 347 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The use of twin studies helps explain how there could be genetic factors in aggressive behavior. There are two types of Twin, monozygotic (identical) and Dizygotic (non-identical). If both types are studied in terms of aggression and the M-Z twins are more similar in aggressive behaviour it would suggest there is a genetic influence on aggression. Coccaro et al found that when comparing MZ and DZ twins, over 50 % of variance in aggressive behaviours between MZ twins could be attributed to genetic factors.…

    • 689 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Purposes of Aggression Hostility can likewise fill various distinctive needs: To express outrage or antagonistic vibe To declare predominance •To scare or undermine To accomplish an objective To express ownership A reaction to fear A response to torment To rival others…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Aggression is a form of behavior with the goal of causing damage to another individual. Evolutionarily it developed in response to competition for mates or vital resources. In humans aggressive behavior has become more nuanced, but its goals and causes are essentially the same. A genetic basis for aggression is shown in animals by the ability to selectively breed aggressive behavior to produce extremely aggressive strains in individuals. In humans, twin studies have also made clear that aggression has a strong genetic component. The role of the hormone testosterone is certainly involved, although the exact pathways are unclear. Brain levels of the neurotoxin serotonin correlate with aggression, and genetic manipulation of these levels can enhance or reduce aggressive behavior. A role for the neurotransmitter nitrous oxide has been demonstrated to influence aggression in both animals and humans (William R. Clark and Michael Grunstein 2014).…

    • 1650 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In today’s society our culture tends to suppress that characteristic, but under the right conditions that deeply rooted aggression can be controlled to achieve a positive result. However, in order for this result to be a positive one, one must realize that society has taught us to believe that the aggression we have inside of us is not necessarily the best way to take on the world which we live in.…

    • 775 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    We Are Own Worst Enemy!

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Throughout human history we have seen many changes in our worldly societies. The one constant has been a need to conquer one another and possess the others land or power. In the eight century a wave of conquering energy appeared in Scandinavia. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark threw up war bands of formidable fighting men that ravaged southern Britain, who in addition to all their martial qualities, were the hardy rovers of the sea. (“The coming of the Northman”, englandandenglishhistory.com) The Vikings were just one example of a people who had a thirst for greed, but they did contribute to the countries they invaded. By their presence on different lands, the invaded population had to learn to defend themselves through combining their efforts and putting aside their foolish differences.…

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    A very well-known researcher Sigmund Freud came up with the psychoanalytical theory of the personality in which he described the unconscious, preconscious and the conscious layers of the mind. All these layers represented different levels of awareness in our brain. He said that the personality is id, which is something we are born with. It is where the basic aggressive drives are stored. According to the theory aggression is not only influenced genetically but also influenced by the surroundings and environment in which we are living in. An apt example is ego, which begins as soon as interaction with the environment starts, and then comes the next stage - superego, which is the moral aspect of humans according to society 's standards and values.…

    • 996 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    reducing aggression

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Reducing aggression often involve altering people's immediate perceptions of others, or the situational cues that may increase aggression. Conflict-resolution strategies focus on reconciling the parties' concrete goals and aspirations. Other strategies encourage cooperation…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays