Evolutionary Theories in Psychology - Comprehensive Notes

Evolutionary Theories in Psychology

• Introduction to Evolutionary Psychology

  • Evolution or change occurs through natural and sexual selection.

  • Evolutionary psychology connects evolutionary principles with modern psychology, focusing on psychological adaptations for survival and reproduction.

  • Major Theories:

  • Sexual Strategies Theory: Examines differences in human mating strategies.

  • Error Management Theory: Explains biases in thinking and decision-making.

Key Concepts in Evolutionary Psychology

• Psychological Adaptations:

  • Changes in thought processes that enhance survival.

  • Resulting from evolutionary pressures over time.

• Evolution Definition:

  • Change over time, not limited to physical traits but involving behavioral adaptations as well.

• Mechanisms of Evolution:

  • Natural selection and sexual selection as primary forces.

Sexual Selection Theory

• Definitions and Processes:

  • Intrasexual Competition: Competition among the same sex for mating opportunities.

  • Intersexual Selection: One sex selects mates based on certain traits.

• Sexual Strategies Theory Details:

  • Differences in mating strategies between males and females.

  • Women are choosier due to higher reproductive stakes, men engage more in short-term strategies.

• Adaptive Advantage:

  • Traits not favorable for survival may still offer mating advantages, e.g., peacock feathers.

Gene Selection Theory

• Concept of Genes:

  • Basic units of heredity that influence survival and reproduction.

  • Genes tend to persist if they enhance reproductive success either directly or through aiding relatives (inclusive fitness).

Examples of Psychological Adaptations

• Survival Adaptations:

  • Mechanisms for coping with environmental challenges, e.g., fear of snakes or height.

• Reproductive Adaptations:

  • Behaviors influencing mate selection, in turn affecting gene propagation.

Error Management Theory (EMT)

• Decision-Making in Uncertainty:

  • EMT illustrates how humans make decisions under uncertainty by minimizing potential costs.

  • Example: Misjudging the danger of rustling leaves while walking.

• Adaptive Biases in Judgment:

  • Individuals are prone to overestimating threats, e.g., visual descent illusion and auditory looming bias.

• Mating Domain Application:

  • Men display a sexual overperception bias, often misinterpreting friendly signals as sexual interest.

Cultural Influences on Psychological Adaptations

• Individualistic vs. Collectivist Cultures:

  • Different cultural contexts shape mating preferences and value systems.

• Cultural Adaptations:

  • Influence of societal norms on mating behaviors, e.g., the value of virginity.

Conclusion

• Flexibility of Psychological Adaptations:

  • Evolutionary psychology does not dictate fixed instincts; rather, it accommodates cultural and situational variability.

• Future Implications:

  • Understanding evolutionary influences on behavior can help adapt our instincts to modern contexts.