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ETHOLOGICAL EXPLANATION OF AGGRESSION - Coggle Diagram
ETHOLOGICAL EXPLANATION OF AGGRESSION
Ethological explanation = aggressive behaviour is genetically coded + performed in order to increase chance of survival
Aggression is seen in all animal species and is considered to be
innate
Therefore, aggressive behaviour is universal/adaptive
Animals are aggressive in order to
protect their territory + resources
e.g. land/food/women which would prolong their existence
Aggression is also used to establish
hierarchies
- top = access to more resources which includes mating opportunities with females
Ethologists argue all species are born with
physiological structures
that produce aggressive responses
e.g. neural circuits
These features are called
innate releasing mechanisms
(IRM) and that
initiate responses to a stimulus in the environment to produce a pre-programmed fixed action pattern
These FAPs are
universal, unchanging and do not depend on learning
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE OF IRM'S AND FAP'S- MALE STICKLEBACKS
Male sticklebacks are territorial and aggressive
During mating season, they develop a red spot on their underside and male sticklebacks will attack other males who enter their territory
This study found that the red spot on their underside was a biological trigger and acts as an innate releasing mechanism
When one stickleback observed another male with this red spot, they would initiate the aggressive attack behaviour ( example of a FAP)
This all suggests that IRMs + FAPs play a crucial role in stimulating aggressive behvaiour which adds validity to the ethological explanation
NOT ALL BEHAVIOUR IS LEARNT IN A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
For example, dogs are often trained by hunters, the army and the police in order to act in a certain way
This suggests that not all aggressive behaviour is innate and therefore it is difficult to extrapolate results
Ethologists argue that animal behaviour helps us to understand human behaviour but it's argued that not all behaviour is learnt
DIFFICULT TO GENERALISE TO HUMANS BECAUSE STUDIES ARE DONE ON ANIMALS
Animals + humans have different physiological attributes.
Human decisions are governed by conscious decisions + we are far more complex/cognitively sophisticated than animals
May not find the same results if repeated on humans which questions validity of the evidence that supports the ethological explanation of aggression
AGRESSION IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MEASURE/OPERATIONALISE
Individuals may often deny/conceal their aggressive behaviour
Researchers must therefore have the skill to apply certain techniques that overcome these complications
This explanation has studied innate releasing mechanisms and fixed action patterns
This ongoing problem with operationalizing aggression reduces the overall validity of the ethological explanation of aggression
To measure physical anger it must be isolated, so other forms of aggression are ignored e.g. passive anger, verbal anger and hostility
REDUCTIONIST
Only considers genetics and survival advantage
Other significant factors are ignored, e.g. observation and imitation
It has been suggested we learn through role models and wanting the rewards that they receive for the same behavior
The role of biology cannot explain this process of SLT - therefore this ethological explanation is incomplete + we should develop a more eclectic approach if we are to ever fully understand the reasons for aggression