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Roots of Aggression

Roots of Aggression. Two Theories. Two Views of Aggression ’ s Source. Biological source--evolutionary/adaptive on a continuum with our animal ancestry Psychological source--rooted in humanity and something peculiar or unique to us!. Ethologists ’ Theory of Human Aggression!.

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Roots of Aggression

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  1. Roots of Aggression Two Theories

  2. Two Views of Aggression’s Source • Biological source--evolutionary/adaptive on a continuum with our animal ancestry • Psychological source--rooted in humanity and something peculiar or unique to us!

  3. Ethologists’ Theory of Human Aggression! • Predation vs. Aggression • Wynne-Edwards: stable populations --animals don’t all starve equally --competitions & displays (red grouse fight at dawn for 2 hrs. then feed togthr. --swarming --Tribolium (Chapman) 1 to 32 breeding pairs, after 6 months, Get 44 beetles/gram flour

  4. Role of Aggression • Fitness selection (mature breeders) & resource allocation • Cost of aggression (hurt/killed) • Limitations on cost: --Dominance hierarchies (hens/monkeys) or individual territories (bower birds) --Mechanisms that minimize damage: • -- threat display • -- ritualized combat Mobbing-a powerful social behavior

  5. Bowerbird Territory

  6. Ritualized Combat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0pxSR3D01s

  7. Implications for Humans • Lorenz & Eibl-Eibesfeldt: dangerous vs. non-dangerous animals & implications • Humans quickly switched categories via cultural invention, didn’t develop the safeguards • Thus an ethological explanation of human behavior!

  8. Human Analogues • Spatial behavior: Hall (intimate 0-1.5, personal 1.5-4, social 4-12, public 12+) • Invasion of space (library tables) • Defensive architecture (Newman) • Middlemeist et al. study of spacing • Emotions (universality, facial muscles, etc.) --defensive smile

  9. Humanistic Theory: Koestler • Focus on War, not bar fights • It’s our human qualities and not our animal nature that makes us dangerous • Pre-history bonding of hunting groups- (Love of the in-group) • Human sacrifice- no inhibition against killing con-specifics • Brain hierarchy (McClain’s tripartite brain) • (Marcus’ kluge: Evolution doesn’t optimize) • Symbols: their unique power to influence humans

  10. Summary • Humans oriented toward what others do and can become dangerous as a result • Contributing issues: • Conformity • Identification (identity formation) • Obedience • Self Perception • Foot in the door • Dehumanization of “others” or out-group • Elevation (love) of “sames” or in-group

  11. Personality Stability vs. Situation?

  12. Personality • Traits vs. States vs. Types • 18,000 personality terms to 32 traits to- • Big five: • Extraversion (outgoing, sociable, positive) • Neuroticism (prone to negative emotions) • Conscientiousness (organized, efficient, disciplined) • Openness to experience (non-conventional, curious) • Agreeableness (trusting & easygoing with others) 40 to 60% heritable

  13. Situationism • Low correlations across situations • Strong vs. weak situations • But-brain differences and heritability • Introverts more sensitive to external stimuli • More reactive central nervous system • Low pain tolerance • Underactive Nor-epi system • Sensation seeking extraverts

  14. Heritability: Big five correlations • Identical twins vs. fraternal twins : Identical Fraternal • Reared together- .51 .23 • Reared apart- .50 .21

  15. Personality Theories • Psychoanalytic • Childhood experience, ucs influence, dynamics, conflict, defenses, development and identification • Humanistic • Focus on self & self-actualization, existential approach, flow & happiness • Social-Cognitive Theory • Beliefs, thoughts & personal constructs shape behavior • Behavioral Theory • Learning history, self-perception theory, self-control

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