Evolutionary Theory

Charles Darwin (1859)

key contribution: explaining how evolution occurs, through selection and chance.

Charles Darwin (1859)

laid the foundation for the modern theory of evolution

chance

SELECTIONS:

occurs mostly through RANDOM genetic mutation

artificial selection (breeding)

SELECTIONS:

occurs when humans select particular desirable traits in a breeding species

natural selection

SELECTIONS:

more general form of artificial selection in which nature select the traits

natural selection

SELECTIONS:

occurs when traits become either more or less common in a species over long periods of time because they do or do not lead to greater survivability

sexual selection

SELECTIONS:

operates when members of the opposite sex find certain traits more appealing and attractive than others and thereby produce offspring with those traits

intrasexual selection

SEXUAL SELECTION:

competes with the same-sex for a mate (usually males)

intersexual selection

SEXUAL SELECTION:

chosen by opposite sex (usually female)

adaptations, by-products, noise

(3,) distinct outcomes of evolutionary process

adaptations

OUTCOMES:

evolved strategies that solve important survival and/or reproductive problems

adaptations

OUTCOMES:

directly affect health and well-being of the person

adaptations

OUTCOME:

often products of natural or sexual selection + have genetic/inherited basis

by-products

OUTCOME:

traits that happen as a result of adaptations but are not part of the functional design

by-products

OUTCOME:

"come along for the ride" of natural or sexual selection

noise (random effects)

OUTCOME:

occurs when evolution produces random changes in design that do not affect function

noise (random effects)

OUTCOME:

tends to be produced by chance and not selected for

natural selection / sexual selection / functionality / domain specificity

principles of evolutionary psychology < (4/)

evolutionary psychology

term that can be defined as the scientific study of human thought and behavior from an evolutionary perspective

natural selection

PRINCIPLES:

foundation of evolutionary thinking

functionality

PRINCIPLES:

Every evolved psychological mechanism serves a specific adaptive function

domain specificity

PRINCIPLES:

Psychological mechanisms are specialized to handle distinct adaptive tasks

natural selection

selection that typically works to lessen individual differences insofar that successful traits and qualities become the norm and less adaptive traits die out