evolutionary psych-class 17

origins of homicide and extreme violence

•Homicide and extreme violence have been present throughout human history.

•Early societies used violence for survival, resource acquisition, and status.

•Historical accounts depict violence in tribal warfare, feuds, and conquests.

•Anthropological evidence suggests homicide rates were higher in prehistoric societies.

evolutionary theories and violence

•Violence is hypothesized to be an adaptive response to competition.

•Aggression may have evolved to deter threats and secure resources.

•Male-male competition has historically driven higher rates of extreme violence.

•Evolutionary psychology explores the cost-benefit analysis of violent behaviours.

gender differences in violence

•Men are more likely to engage in direct, physical aggression.

•Women often use indirect aggression, such as social exclusion and gossip.

•Testosterone is linked to higher aggression levels in men.

•Female violence is often motivated by self-defence or competition over resources.

global homicide rates

•Homicide rates vary significantly across different countries.

•Latin America has some of the highest homicide rates globally.

•Developed nations generally exhibit lower homicide rates than developing ones.

•Social, economic, and political instability contribute to higher violence levels.

cultural and regional differences in violence

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•Honour cultures may promote violent retaliation as a social norm.

•Urbanization and economic disparities contribute to differing violence levels.

•Some cultures emphasize peaceful conflict resolution more than others.

•Historical legacies, such as colonialism, shape contemporary violence patterns.

the influence of scarcity and aggression

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•Competition for scarce resources increases aggression rates.

•Historical famines often led to increased intergroup violence.

•Scarcity-driven conflicts persist in modern geopolitical tensions.

•Societies develop cooperative mechanisms to mitigate resource-based violence.

male coalitional violence and warfare

•Warfare has historically been a male-dominated activity.

•Male coalitions engage in group violence to defend or expand resources.

•Strong in-group loyalty and out-group hostility are common features of warfare.

War provides social and reproductive advantages for victors

adaptations of aggression

•ggression can serve to deter future attacks.

•Displays of strength can enhance social status.

•Resource competition often drives violent behaviours.

Reproductive advantages may result from dominance and conflict success

theories of human warfare

•The 'male warrior hypothesis' explains men’s propensity for war.

•War is often linked to increased reproductive opportunities.

•Coalitional aggression has deep evolutionary roots in human history.

•Evolutionary pressures have shaped psychological mechanisms for group conflict.

sex differences in warfare participation

•Men exhibit higher motivation for intergroup violence.

•Women rarely form same-sex coalitions for combat.

•Physical aggression is a riskier strategy for women due to reproductive constraints.

•Women often support war efforts in indirect roles.

homicide adaptation vs by-product hypothesis

•Some argue homicide is an evolved adaptation to specific contexts.

•Others view homicide as a by-product of aggression mechanisms.

•High levels of homicidal fantasies support adaptation theory.

•Cultural and legal constraints influence expression of violent tendencies.

risk factors for homicide and extreme violence

•Socioeconomic stressors increase homicide risks.

•Early exposure to violence heightens future violent behaviour.

•Status threats can trigger aggressive responses.

Unstable social environments correlate with higher violence rates

recalibration theory of anger

•Anger functions as a recalibrating mechanism in social interactions.

•Expressing anger signals dissatisfaction with social treatment.

•Stronger individuals are more prone to expressing anger.

•Aggression may be a means of asserting social value.

warfare as a reproductive strategy

•Victorious warriors historically gained increased mating opportunities.

•Conquering groups often took captives as reproductive partners.

•Men’s risk-taking in war may be driven by sexual selection pressures.

War heroes often receive elevated social and reproductive status

evolutionary costs of warfare

•High mortality rates challenge the adaptive benefits of warfare.

•Psychological trauma and genetic loss can offset reproductive gains.

•Cooperation is essential for warfare success.

Societies develop cultural norms to regulate war participation

psychological mechanisms of warfare

•Warfare requires coordination and trust among group members.

•Fear and loyalty are key emotional responses in war settings.

•Males more readily form hierarchies in combat situations.

•Training and socialization influence participation in violent conflicts.

warfare in non-human primates

•Chimpanzees exhibit coordinated violent attacks on rival groups.

•Male chimpanzees use violence to expand territory and resources.

•Similar patterns of coalition aggression suggest deep evolutionary roots.

Human warfare may stem from ancestral primate behaviours

group identity and in-group bias in warfare

•Humans categorize others into in-groups and out-groups instinctively.

•In-group loyalty intensifies during conflicts.

•Propaganda and cultural narratives reinforce group cohesion.

•Dehumanization of enemies justifies violent actions.

socialization of aggression and violence

•Early childhood experiences shape aggression tendencies.

•Media and cultural representations influence violent attitudes.

•Rituals and rites of passage reinforce male aggression in some societies.

Parenting styles impact likelihood of developing aggressive traits

evolutionary trade-offs of violence

•Violence can be beneficial in some contexts but costly in others.

•Societies develop norms to regulate acceptable aggression.

•Legal systems evolve to deter extreme violence.

•Group cohesion and cooperative benefits mitigate aggressive tendencies.

intergroup conflict and psycho manipulation

•Propaganda plays a key role in mobilizing groups for war.

•Leaders manipulate perceived threats to justify aggression.

•Fear-based narratives amplify in-group cohesion.

•Psychological warfare strategies shape modern conflicts.

the future of violence and warfare

•Technological advancements reduce personal combat risk.

•Societal shifts emphasize diplomacy over aggression.

•Globalization increases interdependence, reducing large-scale conflicts.

•Psychological understanding of aggression informs conflict resolution strategies.

evolution of revenge and retaliation

•Revenge serves as a deterrent against future harm.

•Retaliatory violence is observed across cultures and history.

•Evolutionarily, revenge reinforced social bonds within groups.

•Legal systems emerged to regulate and replace personal retaliation.

the role of prestige in violence

•High-status individuals often have greater access to resources and mates.

•Prestige can be gained through aggression and dominance.

•Some violent acts are performed to enhance social reputation.

•Modern societies regulate prestige-seeking violence through law and norms.