Both Peterson and Wrangham believe that war and human violence exist because of inherited behavioral tendencies. These tendencies are the result of sexual selection where aggressive males typically dominant less-aggressive males, preventing them from mating and passing on their traits. Sure, we can see evidence of this in the Guido tribes of the northeastern United States, but due to rampant steroid use the chances for reproductive success are slim. Nonetheless, Wrangham and Peterson appear to suffer from monomania, as their argument for an inherent tendency towards violence seems to focus primarily on sexual selection as the driving force behind keeping the aggressive "gene" in our blood. While they conclude that pride is an integral factor in perpetuating violence, primarily among males, it does not prove that humans and chimps are biologically prone to violence.
Make sure you emphasise the 'evolutionary' part in your answer. Xenophobia is often present in sports events, with racist chants and signals often exhibited in the crowds of football matches. Many psychologists believe that natural selection has favoured the genes which cause humans to be altruistic towards members of their own group but intolerant towards outsiders. This may be because it would have prompted our ancestors to be suspicious towards strangers, helping them to avoid attack. Another explanation for the evolution of group displays in sport is based on territoriality, the protective response to an invasion of one's territory.
This explains why not all guards behaved in such a manner. Wanting revenge is an important factor, as these prisoners had killed fellow US soldiers who may have been close friends to the guards. Guards may have felt that the humiliation that the prisoners were subjected to was a more suitable punishment for their behaviour, and would ‘teach them a lesson’. Deindividuation and helplessness of the situation also have to be taken into account, as anyone put in the conditions and stress that soldiers are under may behave differently, not forgetting their job requires dehumanisation to enable them to be able to carry out orders they are given. This theory was based upon mainly male subjects and therefore it cannot be assumed that findings can be applied to the whole population, as there are obvious differences between male and female behaviours when considering aggression.
Threat model based on Blalock’s power threat hypothesis, which states that groups that pose a threat to the majority are more likely to be discriminated against and be the subject of violent action. 2. Describe in detail Religious Rituals- Sosis 2004- believes that the natural costs of religious rituals are the major feature that contributes to the success of religion, natural selection favoured this development. Engaging in painful rituals, self flagellation, and an individual signals commitment to a group. So, this promotes cooperation within the group, Zahavi and Zahavi- the significant costs of these acts also serve as deterrents for anyone who doesn’t believe in the teachings of a particular group but wants to take advantage of its benefits.
Support for Duck's theory comes from Boekhout et al who found that the main reason for breakdown is that one or both partners have an extramarital affair. They state that affairs might be a direct reaction to a lack of skills or stimulation in the current relationship. When they asked undergraduates to rate various sexual and emotional reasons for men and women to be unfaithful. The participants said sexual reason for infidelity like sexual excitement, boredom were more likely to be used by men, whereas for women emotional reasons for infidelity were lack of attention, commitment. Therefore this supports Duck's theory as extramarital affairs are link to the lack of skills or stimulation.
Sexual selection classified by Darwin. In humans, intersexual selection applies, involving members of one sex choose who they want to mate with from the opposite sex. Women choose partners and men compete. Sexy sons’ hypothesis: relates to inter sexual selection, showing women choose their partner depending on what features he has. She chooses the most desirable characteristics that her offspring might inherit.
A man whose mate was unfaithful risked investing in offspring who were not his own, while a woman with an unfaithful mate risked the diversion of resources away from her & her children. Sexual jealousy, therefore, may have evolved as a solution to these problems. Men are more jealous of the sexual act; to avoid cuckoldry while women are more
It is for this reason that the Great War was seen as an opportunity by men, where they could prove their virility by displaying warrior traits of aggression, endurance and camaraderie, defying all aspects that were associated with that of female qualities. With these ideas in mind, the repercussions of war left men in such a state of serious psychological and physical trauma that they suffered from Shell-Shock or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To be a man meant the repression of emotions and the willingness to sacrifice oneself physically and emotionally for the good of their country. Lastly, those that did not enlist into war were bullied into it by a propagandistic scheme known as the White Feather Campaign. Definitions of masculinity have changed over the centuries with particular focus on the idea of male virility.
Discuss the evolutionary explanation of group displays of aggression (5+8 13marks) As an evolutionary explanation group display assumes that aggressive behaviour is adaptive for survival and that groups will display aggression in order to protect their resources, thus helping a group to remain competitive when fighting for necessities. (Such as food and water). Lynch mobs is an example of an aggressive group display which can be explained through social control. During the 1930s major social change was taking place in the US with blacks gaining greater social liberties and a higher social status, which may have been viewed as a threat to white resources. As a result of this fear whites turned to “lynch Law” to maintain social standing (Patterson) and as risk increases, so does aggression towards rival groups for the same resources.
Through her viewpoints, Bartky emphasizes the understanding of epistemic risk as the interpretation of the woman making her male companion the center of everything, and therefore risking the loss of herself as and individual. This all demonstrates how the male role in Sex and the City depicts a true image of the dominance of men in romantic relationships according to Bartky’s “Feeding Egos and Tending Wounds.” In Sex and the City’s episode 54, “Time and Punishment,” the key issue is Carrie’s infidelity to Aiden, her boyfriend, with her ex-boyfriend, Big. The conflict between Carrie and Aiden arises after she receives a message on her answering machine from Big while lying in the bed with Aiden. From that point on Carrie’s relationship with Aiden takes a downward spiral. (Look up quote in book on pg.