Psychology 3720F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Overdetermination, Child Abuse, David Buss
1 Apr 2019
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Two students massacred 12 individuals at their school and then took their own lives. Behaviour is overdetermined when it has multiple causes. Aggression is like water building up in a dam, and when there is enough pressure, there is a release of aggression. Might be released when we are in the presence of an external cue that causes aggression. If not released, aggression will overflow and become spontaneous. Applies to animal behaviour, but this model does not apply well to. As we have the capacity to override aggressive impulses. In most cases we do not act on aggressive urges! Emphasizes genetic survival rather than survival of the individual. Step-parents far more likely to abuse or murder their children. Men aggress as a means of attaining or maintaining status. This establishes dominance over other males - females will choose the male most likely to provide most resources, genes, etc for offspring.
