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Definition
Physical strength has a positive association with levels of aggression.
Introduction
Physical strength has always been a desirable characteristic among humans, particularly males. It has long been suspected that males developed greater physical strength in order to compete in direct confrontations for mates. As such, male’s upper body strength tends to exceed that of females (Isen et al. 2015; Darwin 1871; Sell et al. 2012). These traits of physical strength are meant to intimidate rivals. However, physical strength is not as useful for males if they do not also possess psychological and behavioral adaptations that encourage engagement in conflict. Thus, a male that is not only physically strong but also has the psychological need for battle will be the most fit (Isen et al. 2015). Accordingly, it is logical for a relationship to exist between physical strength and aggression.
The Link Between Physical Strength and Aggression
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References
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Leal, W. (2017). Strength and Anger-Proneness. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1695-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1695-1
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