Evolutionary Theories in Psychology

Adaptations

Evolved solutions to problems that historically contributed to reproductive success.

Error management theory

A theory of selection under conditions of uncertainty in which recurrent cost asymmetries of judgment or inference favor the evolution of adaptive cognitive biases that function to minimize the more costly errors.

Gene Selection Theory

The modern theory of evolution by selection by which differential gene replication is the

defining process of evolutionary change.

Intersexual selection

A process of sexual selection by which evolution (change) occurs as a consequences of the

mate preferences of one sex exerting selection pressure on members of the opposite sex.

Intrasexual competition

A process of sexual selection by which members of one sex compete with each other, and the victors gain preferential mating access to members of the opposite sex.

Natural selection

Differential reproductive success as a consequence of differences in heritable attributes.

Psychological adaptations

Mechanisms of the mind that evolved to solve specific problems of survival or reproduction; conceptualized as information processing devices.

Sexual selection

The evolution of characteristics because of the mating advantage they give organisms.

Sexual strategies theory

A comprehensive evolutionary theory of human mating that defines the menu of mating

strategies humans pursue (e.g., short-term casual sex, long-term committed mating), the adaptive problems women and men face when pursuing these strategies, and the evolved solutions to these mating problems.

Evolution

The gradual change in a species over time.