15.2.2 Evolutionary Explanations of Human Aggression

Men have evolved to be aggressive.

This is because prehistorically; aggression was an adaptive behaviour for men that helped them to survive and reproduce. Thus, through the process of natural selection, they have evolved to display aggression.

Aggression was adaptive for early men as:

It helped men gain access to women and resources such as food
It helped men gain dominance over other men
It helped men to prevent infidelity and ensure they ended up raising their child and avoided cuckoldry

Women have not evolved to be aggressive as they face much less competition for reproductive partners than men. However, they were likely to select more aggressive men, because they could provide the resources that they needed to keep their babies alive.

Sexual jealousy is a major motivator of aggressive behaviour in males which can be given an evolutionary explanation
Men in our evolutionary past who could avoid cuckoldry were more reproductively successful so psychological mechanisms have evolved to increase anti-cuckoldry behaviours in males Cuckoldry = raising a child that isn't genetically theirs
Sexual jealousy is more strongly experienced in males than females. This drives the often aggressive strategies men employ to retain their partners and prevent them from straying Mate retention strategies – direct guarding, negative inducements

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Point: The evolutionary explanation for aggression is often seen as too deterministic.
Evidence: This approach suggests that human aggression towards a mate is biologically driven by the need to survive and reproduce, as seen in studies like Shackelford et al., which found a strong correlation between mate retention strategies and reports of physical violence by women. This view overlooks other factors that influence behaviour.
Explanation: By focusing solely on biological determinism, the theory ignores the role of free will and human agency in decision-making, particularly when it comes to violent behaviour, which is legally and morally viewed as a matter of personal responsibility.
Point: A key limitation of the evolutionary explanation is its neglect of non-biological factors.
Evidence: The evolutionary theory primarily attributes aggression in relationships to biological imperatives, such as mate retention for reproductive success, without considering environmental or social factors that may also play a significant role. This is seen as deterministic, as it suggests that human behaviour is governed solely by the need to survive and reproduce, a perspective that may undermine the autonomy of individuals.
Explanation: Humanistic psychologists argue that this perspective fails to account for the complexity of human behaviour, particularly when people use physical violence, which is legally considered a matter of personal responsibility. A more balanced approach would consider both biological and environmental factors.

Point: Despite its limitations, the evolutionary theory effectively explains gender differences in the use of aggression.
Evidence: Research, such as that by Campbell, shows that males and females display different types of aggression, which can be understood as adaptive strategies. Campbell argues that physical aggression is less adaptive for females with offspring, who may instead use verbal aggression to secure resources.
Explanation: This supports the evolutionary approach by demonstrating how different adaptive strategies are employed by males and females, explaining why women may rely more on verbal than physical aggression, thus providing a nuanced understanding of gender differences in aggression.

Evolutionary Explanations of Human Aggression Simplified Revision Notes for A-Level AQA Psychology

15.2.2 Evolutionary Explanations of Human Aggression

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