Notes on Evolutionary Psychology Misconceptions

The Never-Ending Misconceptions About Evolutionary Psychology

Overview

  • Author: Gad Saad

  • Posted: June 22, 2009

  • Source: Psychology Today

  • Main Theme: Addressing misconceptions and persistent falsehoods about evolutionary psychology (EP).

Key Misconceptions about Evolutionary Psychology

  • Genetic Determinism:

    • Misconception: The belief that evolutionary psychology equates to genetic determinism.

    • Clarification: Evolutionary psychologists argue that the human mind comprises evolved computational systems, shaped by specific environmental inputs.

    • Interactionist Perspective: Humans are a mix of genetic predispositions and individual life experiences.

    • Importance of epigenetic factors that demonstrate the impact of the environment in shaping biological characteristics.

Human Nature and Cultural Examples

  • Human Nature's Flexibility:

    • EP posits an evolutionary-based human nature that is shaped by environmental cues.

    • However, human nature is not infinitely malleable.

  • Cultural Challenges Presented to Ms. Begley:

    • Example 1: Finding a culture prioritizing sons' chastity over daughters'.

    • Example 2: Cultures with a preference for post-menopausal women by men.

    • Example 3: Attractiveness linked to asymmetric facial features over symmetric ones.

    • Example 4: Cultures preferring lazy, submissive men as partners for women.

    • Discussion on women's mating preferences versus socioeconomic status indicating that higher status women prefer high-status males.

Strategic Pluralism in Mating Preferences

  • Definition: Strategic pluralism is an evolutionary-based mating theory that accounts for individual differences in sexuality within the same sex.

  • Contingencies: Men's preferences for waist-to-hip ratio vary based on local ecological contexts (reference: Westman & Marlowe, 1999).

  • Research Acknowledgment: Many studies on behavioral ecology are published in reputable evolutionary psychology journals.

Understanding Universals in Evolutionary Psychology

  • Human Universals:

    • Humans share universal traits or preferences, but this does not mean every individual adheres strictly to these patterns.

    • Examples to Clarify:

    • Men typically being taller than women does not negate individual exceptions (e.g., Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise).

    • Men's preferences for younger women on average do not invalidate outliers (e.g., Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore).

    • Women typically preferring high-status men does not account for every situation (e.g., Roxanne and the starving artist).

  • Assortative Mating:

    • Individuals tend to partner with those of similar mating value, leading to compromises that may diverge from evolved preferences.

    • Without this phenomenon, only individuals of extreme desirability (like supermodels or Presidents) would mate.

Misinterpretation of Findings in Evolutionary Psychology

  • **Misuse of Evolutionary Psychology Findings:

    • Claim: EP explanations for men's greater desire for sexual variety are misinterpreted as justifying infidelity.

    • Rebuttal: This comparison is analogous to claiming that studying the causes of cancer condones cancer's existence.

  • Objective of Evolutionary Psychology:

    • EP operates similarly to other scientific fields, aiming to investigate intriguing questions without hidden agendas.

Summary

  • Evolutionary psychology offers insights into human behavior influenced by both innate predispositions and environmental factors, which should not be misconstrued as genetic determinism or justification for negative behaviors. The interplay between evolution and culture provides a nuanced understanding of human mating behaviors and preferences.