Evolutionary explanation of group displays

AIMS: TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING: WHAT IS GROUP DISPLAY? GIVE EXAMPLES OF GROUP DISPLAY WHY IS GROUP DISPLAY USED BY HUMANS? WHAT ARE THE EVOLUTIONARY ADVANTAGES OF GROUP DISPLAY? EVALUATE THE EXPLANATION, INCLUDING IDAS

Evolutionary explanations of group display in humans, for example sport and warfare.

What messages are these groups giving?

Group displays are ritualised displays of aggression by and between groups of people One function of group display is to determine dominance hierarchies in relation to ownership of territory and intimidation of other groups.

Ritualised aggression has the benefit of success without danger . These displays intimidate the opposition and motivate their own members. Ritualised aggression has the benefit of success without danger

Victory brings REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS For men…. Sports involve displays of skills and strength, behaviour attractive to females who will select the winning males for reproductive success on the basis of their display of genetic fitness.

What about female athletes?

Victory in sports brings increased status and thus reproductive fitness to the supporters as well as to the players. Cialdini et al (1976) ‘basking in reflected glory’: after a university football team had performed well, students more likely to wear university scarves and sweaters. The keenest rivalries are between local teams. This is especially important as the battle for dominance includes local resources, such as females and territory

Football hooligans (such as ‘firm’s) can use violence in a heavily ritualised way. Such ‘macho’ expressions of violence can serve to increase status and dominance and thus reproductive fitness in supporters. Such extreme violence is a means to gain power and dominance against rival fans.

WAR AND SPORT

They serve the same purpose in sport events. War dances/supporter displays War dances are performed before and during battles to intimidate the enemy and motivate the members of the group. They serve the same purpose in sport events. Being part of a group assured protection against predators and other groups. Cohesion of values and purpose within a group is vital if the group is to survive

FINALLY......... WHAT IS GROUP DISPLAY? GIVE EXAMPLES OF GROUP DISPLAY WHY IS GROUP DISPLAY USED BY HUMANS? WHAT ARE THE EVOLUTIONARY ADVANTAGES OF GROUP DISPLAY? EVALUATE THE EXPLANATION, INCLUDING IDAS THE EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATION OFFERS THE BEST EXPLANATION OF GROUP DISPLAY - Discuss

Evaluation It could be argued that such sporting group displays such as the Haka do not signify ritualised forms of aggression but merely serve as entertainment and are commercial and do not reflect traditional practices. Schwarz and Barkey (1977) believed sporting teams win more games at home due to social support of the home supporters, suggesting that territorial group displays may be a factor.

Morris (1981) conducted a non-participant observation of Oxford United fans, home and away, finding their behaviour to be extremely territorial and ritualised, suggesting that such group displays serve a social purpose explainable in evolutionary terms. However, one must question the reliability of such research as observations were conducted and are subjective. There may be observer bias present. Marsh (1982) conducted observation of football fans, finding that most aggression was verbal, non-serious and harmless, serving to reduce levels of aggression, and suggesting that group displays act as catharsis, allowing for the safe release of negative emotions, which suggest a more psychodynamic explanation. End (2005) found that the environment of sports events encourages aggressive group displays, suggesting they are a social construction.

The universal nature of war dances cross-culturally in sport (Haka,) suggests that the behaviour may have an evolutionary component related to ritualised aggression. Dunning et al (1988) argued that far from being ritualised and harmless, a lot of aggression at sports matches is violent, resulting in many deaths. Guttman (1986) believed that no single explanation can cover the behaviour of sporting crowds, as they differ widely. Evolutionary explanation of group displays in sport fails to consider the role of biological and cognitive factors. The deindividuation theory would argue that such aggressive acts are carried out due to a reduced public awareness and increase in anonymity (large crowds).

The Evolutionary theory has a number of methodological challenges The Evolutionary theory has a number of methodological challenges. Berk (1974) noted that crowd events happen quickly, often spontaneously without warning, over a wide area. It would be difficult and dangerous to interview people during such displays, and subsequent accounts are unreliable. The Evolutionary explanation is post-hoc, based on events that have already passed and applying abstract concepts retrospectively which cannot be scientifically tested. The Evolutionary theory is gender biased and reinforces gender stereotypes and is therefore alpha biased (i.e. men are physically aggressive in order to increase their reproductive fitness). The Evolutionary theory is deterministic as it suggests that group display (of aggression) are driven by our genes and serve the sole purpose of survival and enhancing reproductive success.