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Published on: September 28, 2018
Formidability and the logic of human anger
Aaron Sell1, John Tooby, Leda Cosmides
1Center for Evolutionary Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA. sell@psych.ucsb.edu
Summary
Anger is an evolutionary bargaining tool. Individuals with greater strength or attractiveness are more prone to anger and prevail in conflicts, reflecting ancestral social dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Anger is theorized as a neurocognitive program shaped by natural selection.
- This program employs bargaining tactics to resolve conflicts of interest advantageously.
- The theory posits anger incentivizes others to prioritize the angry individual's welfare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test eleven predictions derived from the recalibrational theory of anger.
- To investigate the evolutionary basis of anger as a bargaining mechanism.
- To examine the relationship between physical/social resources and anger proneness.
Main Methods:
- Empirical testing of predictions from recalibrational theory.
- Analysis of anger proneness based on individual attributes (strength, attractiveness).
- Examination of conflict resolution strategies and endorsement of force.
Main Results:
- Individuals with enhanced abilities (strength, attractiveness) were more prone to anger.
- These individuals also prevailed more in conflicts and felt entitled to better treatment.
- Gender differences observed: strength's effect on anger greater in men; attractiveness's effect greater in women.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the recalibrational theory of anger as an evolutionary bargaining strategy.
- Anger proneness is linked to an individual's bargaining power derived from physical or social resources.
- The study suggests anger's underlying logic reflects ancestral, small-scale social payoffs.
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