Evolutionary Psych Ch. 2

General evolutionary theory

Broad principles (e.g., natural selection).

Middle level evolutionary theories

More specific, domain-focused theories (e.g., parental investment theory).

Specific evolutionary hypotheses

Testable propositions within a theory (e.g., men prefer youth as a fertility cue).

Predictions about empirical phenomena

Concrete, measurable expectations derived from hypotheses

Top-down/Theory Driven

Starting from theory and drilling down to predictions. Develop hypothesis from existing theory and develop hypothesis from adaptive function based on a known observation

Bottom up/Observation Driven

Observing real phenomena first and building upward to theories.

Adaptations

Traits shaped specifically by selection to solve recurrent problems.

By-products

Traits that arise as consequences of adaptations but did not evolve for themselves.

Random effects or noises

Features with no adaptive significance. (Also known as “spandrels.”)

Input indicates

Adapative problem, that might lead to danger

What narrow slice of information does EMP take in?

Look, smell, texture

Decision rules

If - then -. Ex: If food smells bad, then do not eat it

Physiological output

Nausea, gag relax, inreased heart rate

Informational output

mental labeling

Behavioral output

taking action, like throwing away or running away.

Comparing different species

Method for testing hypotheses, by comparing different species like chimps and bonobos.

Cross cultural methods

Method for testing hypotheses like analyzing behaviors from different cultures.

Physiological and brain imaging

Assess emotional, sexual arousal and stress

Genetic methods

twin studies, adoption studies.

Compare males/females

analyze different adaptive problems faced by males vs females.

Compare individuals within the species

Young women vs older women

Archeological records

Bone fragments

Data from hunter-gatherers

tools and human remains

observation

observing subjects

Self reports

questionnaires, survey, interview

Life history data

public records, marriage and divorce papers, etc.

Human products

gadets that explain our evolved minds.