Question

Which of the following statements accurately help explain the relationship between economic factors and increased aggression and violence?

-Inequality undermines cohesiveness, trust, and goodwill among individuals.
-Evolutionary researchers suggest that inequality puts males into increased competition for economic resources and access to mates—motivating aggression.
-Powerful feelings of rejection among those on the poorer side of the income inequality divide may trigger violence.
- Poorer people tend to spend more time playing violent video games than wealthier people.

Incomplete Answer:
Accurate:

Answer 1

Economic factors such as inequality and poverty can lead to increased aggression and violence due to undermined social cohesion, evolutionary-induced competition, social disorganization, and systemic societal imbalances highlighted by conflict theory.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relationship between economic factors and increased aggression and violence can be understood through various lenses. Inequality plays a significant role, as it undermines social cohesion and trust, leading to social unrest and marginalization, which may trigger aggression and violence. Evolutionary psychology suggests that economic competition and sexual jealousy induce male aggression, seeing it as an evolutionary strategy to secure resources and mates. Furthermore, social disorganization theory correlates poverty and family disruption with higher rates of crime and deviance, as individuals feel compelled to turn to illegal activities as a means of survival, particularly in societies that value aggression as a sign of strength or in cases of perceived threats to the individual or their in-group.

Particularly, the rise in gang violence in Central America, which can be attributed to poverty and inequality, offers an example of how economic deprivation can lead to social unrest and increased aggression. Additionally, conflict theory, influenced by the work of Karl Marx and Max Weber, emphasizes the impact of social and economic disparities on rates of deviance and aggression, approaching this from the angle of systemic imbalances within society.