PSY307-Evolutionary theory
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Section I - Topic
What is evolution? Evolution has been discussed for many years. Evolution has its theory that states that all living things have evolved from organisms that have changed over time. This was the way that nature has gotten rid of the weakest animals and leaving the strongest animals to survive. Evolution is the idea that species who have the ability to adapt and change through natural selection with the best suited mutations for that particular environment that they are in. The organism with this suited mutation will become dominant. This is called survival of the fittest (Charles Darwin). Natural selection plays a large role in all living organisms. Due to natural selection, there are primates that have a better chance to get the mate that they are pursuing. This allows these primates to survive longer and reproduce. In addition, it will help the organism to populate and have a large successful generation throughout time.
Due to this, I believe that evolution plays an important role in aggression. Some people think that it is biological while others think it is evolutionary. What we do know is that it influences our choices whether it is by gossip, dating, reproducing, or picking friends. Aggression is present when making these choices whether aggression is minimal or maximal. I believe that aggression can not be reduced; but there are different levels of aggression. Aggression can be prevented because aggression has been present for a very long time and it is not something that we can make disappear. This topic is important because it helps us understand why humans have certain behaviors and perform in different ways.
Section II - Example
We have adapted behaviors from our earlier ancestors the monkeys, apes, and early humans. Two behavior examples that play a part in our everyday life are dating, reproduction and emotion. These two examples of aggressive behavior can be by interacting with another individual. For example: At a social event such as a party we can see how a person, wheatear male or female, try to find someone that is appealing to them.
A person does not show aggression in a physical manner but by the way that he/she select’s another individual. Although many times it can be physical aggression as well. Physical aggression can involve a male to feel the need to protect a female and care for her well being. An ape is aggressive when he needs his pathway cleared from other apes or for protection from others. People show aggression through communication, body language and micro expressions that can be hurtful to others. It can be by spreading negative gossip or telling them something directly that you know it will hurt them. Even though apes do not communicate the same way that humans do, they have their own way of communication and sharing of emotions.
Section III - Application
When we look for someone to date, we do not look for someone to waste time with. On the contrary, we look for someone that we can spend time with and that is compatible with us in many ways not just one. But above all, we look for someone that we can reproduce with and pass on our genes to. When we select a partner to reproduce with, we are aggressive in the way that we select. It is obvious that we are not going to show our aggressiveness in the first encounter or on the first couple of dates.
Through the history of evolution, men have done the hunting while women do the gathering. Men have been promiscuous while women have been discriminated. Men have spent less time with their children while women have invested a great amount of time caring for their children. Natural selection is the concept that plays a role when choosing a mate. There are certain characteristics that an individual will look for in a mate. For examples, some traits that men look for in women are hour shape glass bodies because it shows that they are more suitable to bear children. They also look for women who are attractive, smart, and young. Women look for men who can keep off competition, can live longer, have broad shoulders, height, muscles, intelligent, and that can provide. This is due mainly to chance which goes in further with parental investment which is the key to why men want independence and women want commitment.
When it comes to the ability to reproduce with a scare source; like a female ape is, the apes would have to compete because a female ape can only reproduce a certain amount of baby apes. While a male ape can reproduce all he wants as long as he has access to female apes. The same course of action applies to humans. A man can have as many babies as he wants with different women and that would not be a problem for him. On the other hand a woman can conceive one baby every year as opposed to many babies a day.
When there is another person blocking our path to get to that person that we want, we show our physical aggressiveness against them. Also, when a man feels that another man is threatening their relationship with a woman; he will become physically aggressive or verbally aggressive. The man will not stop until he feels that he was protected his woman. Throughout evolution, we know that apes would compete against other apes in order to get the particular mate that they want. The way that these primates would compete would be by fighting until the stronger and more dominant ape defeated the weaker ape. This is how they would show their superiority over them and gain status and power. Once they have gained these three, that ape would be superior and would get what he desired. This is the same for humans. There are situations were aggression has been demonstrated to be the best solution for men's adaptation problems (Fisher and Mosquera pg 7).
Another example would be emotion. I believe that we have different emotional levels with aggression that we should consider. While men are physically aggressive; women are verbally aggressive. For men, being physically aggressive means to be in control over others to protect their self-esteem or integrity. Indirect aggression and verbal aggression are two things that women use. This may include gossiping, spreading false rumors about someone or revealing someone's secrets (Hess and Hagen pg. 232). This still counts as a form of aggression even though it is more emotional than physical.
Women can express their anger by crying when someone hurts them by telling them something that will affect them emotionally. Females can spread rumors better than men can. Women use verbal aggression against other women because they know how hurtful it can be. Even though apes cannot speak like we do, they still communicate in their own ways and show emotions like sadness and pain. Throughout evolution, we have been able to show emotion caused by aggression.
Section IV - Application # 2
The Columbine massacre was an incident that occurred at a high school where two students murdered a large number of students and teachers. In this incident, aggression played a big role that caused the lives of many individuals. It was told that Harris was feeling depressed, had expressed anger and suicidal thoughts (Wikipedia). Before he was on medication, he was feeling aggressive which was only made more evident with the prescription that was given to him because it triggered the aggression to its full. Perhaps they were the under dog. If this was the case, then their emotions and feelings let the aggression take over. Maybe they wanted status and power as males have had throughout evolution due to their aggression. It has to do with the idea that aggression has worked well for men in the human evolutionary past than it has for the opposite sex (Fischer and Mosquera pg. 7). However, their aggression towards others did not work well for them. It is unsure if evolution and aggression could have prevented the actions that were taken by these two students who participated in the High School massacre.
When it comes to aggression, we have to define what aggression is to us. There is aggressiveness between males and females. We know that there is more aggression between same genders than different genders due to the strength between both genders. It is easier to be aggressive with someone of the same sex because you know that if aggression becomes physical, it is easier to confront someone with the similar characteristics as your own. Taking into considering that there may be a difference of muscle mass and body structure between males and females.
Aggression is something that is present in all stages and ages throughout the life cycle. Children use aggression when they lack verbal skills or when they can not get what they want for example, a toy, food, attention, or when they want to take away an object from another person. Teenagers use aggression when it comes to relationships, gossip, and fighting. Adults use aggression when it comes defending themselves, their children, or a loved one. There is always a type of aggression for any age. We have to keep in mind that these behaviors of aggression have been present throughout evolution.
References
Baron, R., & Richard, D. (1994, 1997). Human Aggression, New York: Plenum Press.
Budaev, S. (1999 May). Sex differences in the Big Five personality factors: Testing an evolutionary hypothesis. Personality and Individual Differences, 26(5), 801-813.
Fischer, A., & Rodriguez Mosquera, P. (2001, June). What concerns men? Women or other men?: A critical appraisal of the evolutionary theory of gender differences. Psychology, Evolution & Gender, 3(1), 5-26.
Hess, N., & Hagen, E. (2006, May). Sex differences in indirect aggression Psychological evidence from young adults. Evolution and Human Behavior, 27(3), 231-245.
O’Leary, K., Slep, A., Avery-Leaf, S., & Cascardi, M. (2008, May). Gender differences in dating aggression among multiethnic high school students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42(5), 473-479.
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