Psychology 109 - evolutionary psychology

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of how evolution has shaped human behavior, cognition, and culture.

Comparative Psychology

The field that examines animal behavior and cognition to shed light on the evolutionary roots of human mental processes.

Homology

Shared traits or structures in different species that are inherited from a common ancestor (e.g., the vertebrate limb).

Convergence

The independent evolution of similar traits in species of different lineages due to similar selective pressures.

Natural Selection Requirements

The four conditions necessary for natural selection: variation, heritability, design differences, and competition.

Genotype

The complete set of inherited DNA, which provides the genetic blueprint for an organism.

Phenotype

The observable characteristics or traits of an organism that result from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.

Allele

One of two or more alternative forms of a gene found at the same locus on a chromosome.

Polygenic Inheritance

The phenomenon where a single trait is influenced by multiple genes, common for many psychological traits.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

An inherited metabolic disorder caused by a recessive allele that, if untreated, can lead to cognitive deficits.

Heritability

A measure of how much of the variation in a trait within a population can be attributed to genetic differences—not applicable to individuals.

Twin Studies

Research comparing identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic) twins to disentangle genetic influences from environmental effects.

Meme

A unit of cultural information (such as ideas, behaviors, or styles) that spreads from person to person by imitation, analogous to genes in biological evolution.

Descent with Modification

The principle that traits evolve over time as they are passed on to successive generations, accumulating changes that can be subject to selection.

Cultural Evolution

The process by which cultural traits (memes) change over time, following principles similar to natural selection in biological evolution.

Social Learning

Learning that occurs by observing and imitating others, a key mechanism in the transmission of culture.

Conformist Bias

The tendency to adopt behaviors or beliefs that are more common within a group

Prestige Bias

The tendency to imitate or adopt behaviors from individuals who are perceived as successful or high status.

Religion as a Cultural Adaptation

The idea that religious beliefs and practices evolved because they promote group cohesion and cooperation, enhancing survival in social groups.