Lecture on Status and Aggression

This collection of flashcards covers key concepts from the lecture on status and aggression, with a focus on animal behavior, human social dynamics, and evolutionary psychology.

What was the Stolen Valor Act of 2005?

It is an act that makes false claims of having won a military medal illegal.

What happened to Admiral Jeremy Boorda in 1996?

He committed suicide rather than face the shame of being exposed for falsely displaying a valor medal.

How do crickets establish dominance hierarchies?

Crickets remember their success and failures in fights, which affects their aggressiveness or submissiveness.

What is a 'pecking order' in animal behavior?

It is a social hierarchy that emerges when individuals learn their dominance relative to others, typically reducing fighting.

What reproductive advantage do dominant male chimpanzees have?

They secure increased sexual access to females, with dominant males often mating with at least 50% of females.

What factors influence dominance hierarchies in primates?

Dominance depends not only on physical size but also heavily on social skills and the ability to enlist allies.

What is the difference between dominance and prestige in human status?

Dominance involves force or the threat of force, while prestige is based on skills, knowledge, or social connections.

How does observing status affect men's risk-taking behavior?

Men tend to choose riskier options when they believe they are being evaluated by peers of equal status.

What psychological responses can occur from a decrease in social status?

Responses may include social anxiety, rage, and envy.

What is 'young male syndrome'?

It refers to the tendency of young men to engage in risky and aggressive behavior due to heightened status competition.

Why are men more likely to engage in violent aggression?

Evolutionary models suggest men compete for mate access, leading to aggressive tactics and high variance in reproductive success.

What often motivates male-male homicides?

Defending status, reputation, and honor within the local peer group.

How are women’s forms of aggression generally characterized?

Women's aggression is typically less violent and less risky compared to men's aggression.

What factors contribute to perceptions of physical status?

Characteristics such as size, facial dominance, and verbal/nonverbal cues indicate high status.

What is a common finding about the relationship between height and leadership?

Taller individuals are often perceived as more qualified for leadership roles and are more likely to be elected.

How does one’s physical appearance impact their perceived strength and status?

People can accurately gauge a man's strength from his physical characteristics, which influences status perceptions.

What evolutionary theory explains male coalitional warfare?

The theory posits that significant reproductive benefits from warfare can outweigh the risks involved.