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Human aggression in evolutionary psychological perspective

D M Buss1, T K Shackelford

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin 78712, USA. dbuss@psy.utexas.edu

Clinical Psychology Review
|January 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary
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Human aggression evolved as a psychological solution to adaptive challenges in social living. This evolutionary psychology perspective explains sex differences in aggression across various contexts.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Human Behavior
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Human aggression is a complex behavior with significant social implications.
  • Previous explanations for aggression have not fully integrated evolutionary principles.
  • Understanding the adaptive functions of aggression is crucial for explaining its prevalence and patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose an evolutionary psychological framework for understanding human aggression.
  • To identify specific adaptive problems that may have selected for aggression.
  • To explain sex differences in aggression through an evolutionary lens.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical analysis integrating evolutionary psychology and aggression research.
  • Hypothesizing seven adaptive problems for which aggression may have evolved.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examining contextual factors influencing aggression and sex differences.

    • Main Results:

    • Seven hypothesized adaptive problems for aggression were proposed: resource acquisition, defense, same-sex rivalry, status negotiation, deterrence, mate guarding, and child investment.
    • Context-specific solutions involving aggression are proposed to explain human behavior.
    • Cross-cultural data suggest men exhibit greater violent aggression than women in specific contexts.

    Conclusions:

    • Aggression is viewed as a suite of evolved psychological mechanisms solving adaptive problems.
    • The evolutionary framework provides a parsimonious explanation for diverse forms of human aggression.
    • Further empirical research is needed to validate the hypothesized functions and limitations of this account.