COG SCI LEC 9 MONDAY (EVOLUTIONARY PSYCH)

EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

• attributes that increase chances of survival and reproduction of genes are more likely to be passed down to offspring

3 CONDITIONS FOR EVOLUTION TO OCCUR

1. variation in species

2. inheritance of traits

3. change in environment favouring some traits more than others

VARIATION IN SPECIES

two members of the same species could have different genes hence different traits

INHERITANCE OF TRAITS

• traits are genetic

• traits are passed from parent to offspring

ADAPTION

evolutionary process that leads to changes in. species that enhances fitness and survival

PROCESS OF EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATION

• Change in environment

• breeding across different species

• genes passed down to offspring

• species with higher survival rate will more likely pass genes down to offspring

NATURAL SELECTION “survival of the fittest)

• the inheritance and existence of a certain trait makes it more likely that a species will survive in a certain environment

• a change in environmental conditions can lead to likeliness of one animals survivability being higher then another

SEXUAL SELECTION

• selection of mates to to reproduce and pass on traits to offsprings

• involves competition for the attention of a mate with purpose of reproduction

• reproductive success of a species

MATE SELECTION IN PEOPLE

• males should be most attracted to women who have genetic traits that can produce and raise children

• women should be most attracted to males who can provide resources to raise offsprings

ARTIFICIAL SELECTION

sometimes a specific species have traits that are so useful/ beneficial that owners selectively use these species to mate in hope that traits can be passed down to offsprings

ENVIRONMENT OF EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATION

• the period of time during which many human psychological mechanisms are believed to have evolved

EVOLVED PSYCHOLOGICAL MECHANISMS

• A cognitive system that emerges from activity of parts of the cortex

• Activated only within specific environmental contexts

• Environment context facilitates cognitive processes and a behaviour

THE MIND AS A GENERAL PURPOSE PROCESSOR

• The mind evolves a sequence of steps for a purpose

• Purpose of evolving sequence of steps is to address a difficult situation (a problem)

• A widespread evolution of the sequence of steps to solve different problems