the ethological explanations of aggression

what is ethology? (1)

the science of animal behaviour

aggression is …

adaptive

why is aggression adaptive? (2)

• it increases the chance of survival of a species

• it acts as a method of increasing one’s social status within a hierarchy

what is ritualistic aggression? (1)

a series of threatening displays carried out in a set order to deter an opponent while avoiding physical harm

what occurs after an aggressive confrontation and why is this adaptive? (2)

• the loser will carry out a ritualistic appeasement display; these indicate acceptance of defeat and inhibit any aggressive behaviour in the victor

• adaptive as it ensures no further aggressive behaviour between the two, increasing the likelihood of survival of the species

what are innate releasing mechanisms (IRMs)? (1)

a built-in physiological structure or process which is triggered by environmental stimuli, leading it to produce fixed action patterns

what are fixed action patterns (FAPs)? (1)

a specific sequence of behaviours

what are the 6 main featured of fixed action patterns?

• stereotypical or relatively unchanging

• universal - same behaviour is found in every individual of a species

• unaffected by learning - same for each individual regardless of experience

• ballistic - once the behaviour is triggered it follows an inevitable course and cannot be altered before its completion - behaviour only occurs in a specific situation

• single purpose - behaviour triggered in response to an identifiable specific sign stimulus/releaser (if involves communication)

what supporting research is there for the ecological explanation?

• researcher presented a wooden model of a male stickleback with and without a red spot on their underside

• male sticklebacks are very territorial and aggressive, and it was suggested that the red spot acted as an IRM which initiated an aggressive attack

• findings supported this - the fish only attacked if the red spot was present

• this increases the credibility of the explanation

what is the problem of the supporting research being an animal study?

• there are differences between animal and human physiology

• humans don’t have a singular universal aggressive behaviour that is triggered by a specific stimulus

• we question to what extent we can apply the findings to humans

• decreased ecological validity

what contradicting ideas for fixed action patterns are there?

• there is evidence learning and environmental factors can create variation within a species

• may be more appropriate to use modal action patterns to describe behaviour

• these are behaviours that are instinctual, but differ between individuals of the same species, e.g. some dogs chasing cats but others not

• explanation is therefore reductionist as external factors can influence behaviour and doesn’t acknowledge this