EP Test 1

History of Evolution

Charles Darwin studied finches in the Galapagos and realized they all had specific adaptations depending on their environment.

Variation

seed that germinates into evolution

Selection

process that some traits are transmitted to subsequent generations

inheritable

for something to be an adaptation, it must be _____

natural selection

very gradual (occurs over many generations)

sexual selection

reproductive success gained specifically through success in mating

social selection

by reproducing one's genes by being an effective group member

kin selection

reproducing one's genes by helping one's genetic relatives reproduce their genes

The mind according to evolutionary psychology:

adaptations are designed to solve every specific challenge; not all conscious; mismatches between current and ancestral environments.

Swiss army knife example

the mind is created for multiple different uses

adaptations

evolution generates physiological and psychological mechanisms designed to serve specific functions (EX: giraffe neck)

exaptations

adaptations originally useful for one purpose, then for another (EX: hollow bird bones)

byproducts

produced by adaptations, not adaptations themselves (EX: sweet tooth--> desire for chocolate)

noise

random consequences of learning & development, genetic mutation, the environment (EX: preferring chocolate or vanilla)

tradeoffs

Many genetic traits that increase reproduction also comes with costs (EX: sickle cell anemia = bad; resistance to malaria= good)

preparedness theory

organisms are biologically prepared to learn certain things very efficiently

transmitted culture

learning (EX: mom taught me to cook with spices)

Evoked culture

evolved with landscape (EX: countries with higher pathogens use more spice in their food because it kills germs)

naturalistic fallacy

just because something is natural, doesn't mean its good

nature AND nurture

evolution provides the blueprint

evolution is about survival of the species

FALSE; it's about survival of the individual

Observational Method

observing behavior in its natural state
[strength: high ecological validity; weakness: researcher has very little control]

EX of observational method

women prefer older men, men prefer younger women

Physiological method

measuring a physiological/biological process [strength: can provide strong evidence of evolved process; weakness: measures can be costly]

EX of physiological method

hormones underlie women's and men's sex drive

experimental method

researcher manipulates something (IV) and examines the effect (DV) [Strength: researcher has lots of control; Weakness: low ecological validity]

comparative method

evaluating whether certain behaviors are common across humans and other species [Strength: provides strong evidence for evolution; Weakness: difficult to infer 'psychological' processes in other species]

EX of experimental method

men should show higher sexual attraction around women at peak fertility

EX of comparative method

male marmosets & humans both show an increase in testosterone when around fertile females

cross-cultural method

evaluating whether a pattern of behavior is universal across cultures [Strength: provides strong evidence for evolution; Weakness: not always clear how to measure culture]

EX of cross-cultural method

basic emotions are culturally universal

anthropological method

examining traditional, small-scale societies (hunter-gatherers)
[Strength: provides unique insight into the 'ancient' aspects of human psychology; Weakness: small-scale societies are dwindling]

EX of anthropological method

The Hadza

savana hypothesis

Preference for landscaped that offer R & R (humans prefer environments that are neither completely closed/open)

what is R & R?

Resources (food) & Refuge (safety)

why are foods experienced as delicious?

if they taste calorically dense

countries with hotter/wetter climates tend to...

use more spice due to the higher % of pathogens

pathogen

micro-organism that causes illness & disease

parasite

micro-organism that lives in host (type of pathogen)

top killer in poor countries?

bacterial and viral infections

top killer in richer countries?

heart disease

Physiological Immune System (PIS)

fights germs in the body

Behavioral Immune System (BIS)

adaptations to help people avoid contact with pathogens

Environmental cues

ecological pathogen prevalence

situational cues

sensing or thinking about disease

personal cues

chronic sensitivity, recent illness

why do concerns about pathogens increase prejudice?

when foreign groups are unfamiliar, we categorize them as carrying pathogens we are not familiar with

what was disgust originally designed for?

pathogen avoidance

is disgust cross-cultural?

YES

Moral intuitionism

most of morality is based on feelings of disgust

fear

threat based emotional adaptation that motivates avoidance or confrontation of dangers

Physiological fear

increased epinephrine, glucose, breathing rate

behavioral fear

the 3 F's--> fight, flight, freeze

cognitive fear

attention narrows and focuses on threat

overgeneralization

fear is readily generalized to non-dangerous stimuli that are similar in appearance to a dangerous stimulus

example of overgeneralization

king snake (not venomous) & coral snake (venomous)--> regardless you will be frightened and jump back if they cross your path

anxiety

attention expands

characteristics associated with interpersonal danger:

male, anger, outgroup

why is race used heuristically?

as a cue to group membership, but language, clothing & behavior are even stronger cues

people categorize others by...

race, age, & sex

in ancestral environments, encounters between people of different race...

would almost NEVER occur

epigenetics

when developmental experiences turn certain genes on or off

nature VIA nurture

conditioned taste aversion (EX: ribs or truffle oil)