Knowt
Note
Studied by 42 peopleNoteStudied by 22 peopleNoteStudied by 15 peopleNoteStudied by 138 peopleNoteStudied by 2 peopleNoteStudied by 796 people
Lecture 3 Evolutionary Psychology Lecture
Page 1: Introduction to Evolutionary Psychology
Course: PSYC3017
Lecturer: Amanda Kellman, M.Sc.
Page 2: Learning Objectives
Describe evolutionary theory.
Identify and discuss the main tenets of evolutionary psychology.
Illustrate how evolutionary psychologists explain individual differences.
Identify and discuss the key limitations of evolutionary perspectives on personality.
Page 3: The Origin and Development of Human Beings
Creationism: Belief that God specially intervened to create life forms on earth directly without using prior extinct life forms
Intelligent Design: The world shows evidence of scientific nature which suggests it was intelligently designed
Theistic Evolution: The belief that God used existing life forms to create new ones.
Atheistic Evolution: Concept that life evolved from prior, extinct forms without divine intervention.
Page 4: Biological Causes of Behavior
Two types:
Proximate Causes: Biological processes occurring at the time of the behavior is observed
Ultimate Causes: Questions why certain biological mechanisms exist and why they respond to the environment in certain ways.
Page 5: Ultimate Causes of Behavior
Certain biological features enhance survival in specific environments, favoring reproduction (Natural Selection).
Successful biological mechanisms become prevalent over generations leading to evolution.
Page 6: Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
Considered that all life forms, including humans, evolved from earlier species adapting to environmental demands over time.
Page 7: Artificial Selection
Darwin's key insight involved artificial selection, where humans breed organisms for predetermined traits.
Example: Differences between Great Danes and Chihuahuas arise from human selection over generations.
Page 8: Natural Selection
Theory Overview: More offspring are produced than survive. Traits that enhance survival lead to more descendants, with successful traits eventually dominating the species.
Process Explained: Variants that favor survival spread through genetic inheritance.
Page 9: Survival of the Fittest
Some individuals adapt better to their environments, ensuring their traits are inherited by future generations, leading to eventual superiority in those traits within the population.
Page 10: Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection
Four Components:
Variation
Inheritance
High population growth rate
Differential survival and reproduction
Page 11: Darwin’s Theory of Sexual Selection
Sexual Selection: Variations that enhance successful mating are favored.
Intrasexual Competition: Competition among the same sex for mates.
Intersexual Selection: Mate preference based on desirable traits.
Page 12: Genes and Inclusive Fitness
Genes: The basic unit of inheritance.
Inclusive Fitness Theory: Considers both personal reproductive success and the impact on the reproductive success of genetically related individuals.
Page 13: Products of the Evolutionary Process
Adaptations: Structures developed to solve adaptive problems.
By-products: Incidental effects of adaptations.
Noise: Random variations not related to selection pressures.
Page 14: A Few Caveats
Non-Intentionality: Evolution is not purposeful or forward-looking.
Gradual Evolution: Evolution occurs gradually rather than through sudden changes.
Page 15: Misunderstandings of Evolution
Evolution does not imply behaviors are solely genetically determined.
Evolution does not mean human behaviors are unchangeable.
Evolution is not related to internal conscious computation.
Evolution does not imply optimal designs exist in nature.
Page 16: A Few Early Criticisms
Lack of a coherent theory of inheritance.
Creationism is untestable and not useful for existing mechanisms.
Irreducible complexity challenges (e.g., partial wings, eyes).
Page 17: The Evolutionary Approach
Definition: Scientific study of human thought and behavior from an evolutionary perspective
Focuses on four main questions:
Design and evolution of the human mind.
Structure and parts of the human mind.
Functions of the mind's parts.
Interaction of evolved minds with current environments.
Page 18: David M. Buss (1953-)
Notable personality theorist trained specifically in the field, receiving a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in 1981.
Page 19: Main Tenets of Evolutionary Psychology
Behavior Functionality: All behavior results from psychological mechanisms influenced by environment and internal factors.
Psychological Mechanisms: Necessarily rooted in evolutionary processes.
Page 20: Main Tenets of Evolutionary Psychology (Cont’d)
Natural and Sexual Selection: Primary evolutionary processes responsible for the emergence of psychological adaptations.
Mechanisms as Devices: Evolved psychological mechanisms function as information processing units.
Page 21: Main Tenets of Evolutionary Psychology (Cont’d)
Outputs of Adaptations: May include physiological activity or manifest behavior.
Location of Adaptations: Found within the brain.
Functional Nature: Designed to address recurrent adaptive problems faced by ancestors.
Page 22: The Adaptive Value
Evolutionary psychology posits behaviors that increase reproductive success are favored by natural selection.Example: Aggressive species pass on aggressive genes due to survival benefits.
Page 23: Why do human babies have belly buttons?
A by-product of evolution: formerly functional umbilical cord linking fetus and mother.
Page 24: Why Do Men Have Nipples?
By-product of adaptation; essential in females for lactation but not actively used in males.
Page 25: Plausible Evolved Functions
Genes are selected based on their effects on replication rates, specifically as they address evolutionary problems.
Page 26: Adaptive Problems
Adaptations are solutions to challenges affecting survival and reproduction.
Key characteristics: reliable occurrence in species, effectiveness in solving tasks, and reasonable costs.
Page 27: Major Classes of Adaptive Problems
Survival and growth
Mating
Parenting
Genetic relatives
Page 28: Human Nature
Product of evolution; successful psychological mechanisms proliferate and characterize the species over time.
Page 29: Examples of Evolutionary Analysis
Focus Areas:
The Need to Belong
Helping and Altruism
Universal Emotions
Page 30: Evolutionary Psychology and Human Nature
Contemporary behaviors are viewed through the lens of evolved solutions to longstanding adaptive challenges faced by humans.
Page 31: The Features of Evolved Mind
Mind features evolved to tackle recurrent reproductive success problems; many mechanisms from hunter-gatherer ancestors may now be maladaptive.
Page 32: Premises of Evolutionary Psychology
Domain-specificity: Adaptations solve specialized problems.
Numerousness: Many psychological adaptations exist.
Functionality: Adaptations are designed to achieve particular adaptive goals.
Page 33: Empirical Testing of Evolutionary Hypotheses
Levels of analysis hierarchy: General theories > Middle-level theories > Specific hypotheses.
Page 35: Strategies for Testing Evolutionary Hypotheses
Deductive Reasoning: Theory-driven approach.
Inductive Reasoning: Data-driven, observation-based approach.
Page 38: General Comments on Testing Evolutionary Hypotheses
All methods have strengths and weaknesses. Emphasis on seeking "converging evidence" from multiple data sources.
Page 39: Evolutionary Psychology and Mental Modules
Mental modules are specialized information processing devices to tackle specific evolutionary tasks like mate attraction.
Page 40: Social Exchange and Detection of Cheating
Psychological mechanisms evolved to navigate social exchanges; distinct systems exist for cheating detection, which is vital for survival.
Page 41: Human Universals in Cheating Detection
Evidence suggests cheating detection mechanisms are universal, observed even in non-literate cultures.
Page 42: Sex Differences: Evolutionary Origins?
Understanding sex differences is complicated; biology may shape differences, but social factors also play a role.
Page 43: Sex Differences in Adaptive Problems
Expected similarities when faced with the same adaptive problems, differences when facing different issues (e.g., aggression, jealousy, mate preferences).
Page 44: Hypothesis of Spatial Abilities
Hunting vs. gathering defines cognitive abilities; expected cognitive strengths based on these activities.
Page 45: Evidence of Spatial Abilities
Women excel in location memory tasks; men excel in navigation tasks.
Page 49: Example of Spatial Tasks
Males typically outperform females on visual-spatial tasks linked to hunting; females perform better in gathering-related tasks.
Page 50: Examples Validating Evolutionary Approach
Fear of snakes/spiders
Sexual jealousy in males
Preference for high-fat/sugar foods
Women's emphasis on finance in mate selection.
Page 51: Evolution of Behavior in Populations
Assumes interaction of genes, nervous systems, and behavior while requiring environmental mixing through assortative mating.
Page 52: Aggression as Evolved Behavior
Selection pressures favor aggression in environments perceiving threats, securing resources, and competing for mates.
Page 53: Limiting Aggression
Excessive aggression seen as evolutionary disadvantage due to potential risks.
Page 54: Fear of Spiders
Examines how natural selection might explain widespread fears of spiders, linking ancestral survival with modern behavior.
Page 55: Mating and Gametes
Males: Small, mobile gametes.
Females: Large, stationary gametes.
Page 56: Male-Female Mate Preferences
Parental Investment Theory: Women's greater investment in offspring derives from biological differences between sexes, leading to selectivity.
Page 57: Male-Female Mate Preferences: Buss's Insights
The investing sex (women) becomes choosier; men are more competitive for the opportunities to mate.
Page 58: Reproductive Value vs. Fertility
Reproductive Value: Potential offspring count for a given individual.
Fertility: Actual count of viable offspring produced.
Page 59: Parental Probability Theory
Women's certainty of maternity influences mate selection criteria based on male reliability and fidelity.
Page 60: Hypotheses Based on Investment Theories
Male and female mate value determined by respective criteria: women's on reproduction, men's on resource provision.
Page 61: Buss's Cross-Cultural Study
Major patterns observed in mate preference from over 10,000 individuals across 37 cultures saw consistent trends in valuation of traits.
Page 62: Strategies and Counter-Strategies
Women seek visible traits indicating value; men develop strategies to present themselves as high-value partners.
Page 63: Long-Term Mate Selection: Capacity to Invest
Criteria for choosing a mate to ensure support such as stability, social status, and age.
Page 64: Long-Term Mate Selection: Willingness to Invest
Dependability and emotional cues foster a sense of security in potential partners.
Page 65: Long-Term Mate Selection: Physical Protection
Preferences that signal ability to physically protect the mate and offspring.
Page 66: Long-Term Mate Selection: Parenting Skills
Preference for indicators of good parenting qualities fosters stable relationships.
Page 67: Long-Term Mate Selection: Compatibility
Seek mates with shared values, personalities, and orientations.
Page 68: Long-Term Mate Selection: Health
Physical attractiveness correlated with health signals in potential mates.
Page 69: Preferences for Economic Resources
Preconditions for resource preferences established counting on resource availability and male willingness to invest.
Page 70: Cross-Cultural Results
Women's preferences reflect consistent themes across cultures in valuing resources and social status in partners.
Page 71: Preference for Economic Resources
Across cultures, women place higher significance on a male's earning capacity.
Page 72: Preference for High Social Status
Social status importance is emphasized similarly by women across cultures.
Page 73: Preference for Older Partners
Older men preferred due to perceived resource access, experience, and stability.
Page 74: Preference for Ambition and Industriousness
Traits concerning hard work and dedication influence long-term relationship success across cultures.
Page 75: Preference for Dependability and Stability
On average, women choose dependable partners who reliably provide resources.
Page 76: Adaptive Problems in Mating: Capacity
Recognizing the importance of qualities indicating reproductive potential informs mate selection.
Page 77: Preference for Younger Women
Males attracted to younger women based on youthfulness, health, and reproductive potential indicators.
Page 78: Evolutionary Standards of Attractiveness
Standards emerge early and possess cross-cultural consistency.
Page 79: Evidence Supporting Evolutionary Perspectives of Beauty
Universal standards persist early in life, evidencing innate appreciation towards certain traits.
Page 80: Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR)
Studied as a key measure of attractiveness aligning with evolutionary perspectives.
Page 81: Women's Sexual Desire and Ovulation Cycle
Investigations into fluctuating desires across hormonal changes show adaptive behaviors.
Page 82: Double Standard and Sexual Opportunities
Evolutionary arguments concerning men's traits based on historical reproductive opportunities.
Page 83: Clarke and Hatfield (1989) Study
Clear gender differences in receptiveness to sexual propositions highlight evolutionary perspective validity.
Page 84: Men's Short-Term Mating Strategies
Adaptive discussion around short-term mating—costs and benefits for men.
Page 85: Behavioral Evidence of Short-Term Mating
Examples of extramarital affairs and prostitution as supporting evidence of evolutionary theories.
Page 86: Costs Women Face in Short-Term Relationships
Women encounter unique reproductive risks associated with short-term mating incidents.
Page 87: Empirical Tests of Women's Preferences
Individual preferences often fluctuate based on immediate needs and long-term mating perceptions.
Page 88: Examining Data on Sex Differences
Eagly and Wood's findings present societal influences affecting individual preferences and behaviors.
Page 89: Counter Arguments in Evolutionary Analysis
Reflect upon the impact of gender equality on mate preferences aimed at rebutting deterministic views of sex differences.
Page 90: Examination of Infidelity Responses
Testing physiological responses to emotional versus sexual infidelity illuminates complexities in sex difference research.
Page 91: contradicted evolutionary claims
Harris's studies suggest men’s infidelity-induced emotional responses align with situational context rather than inherent differences.
Page 92: Empirical Research Findings
Recent insights challenge established views correlating sex differences strictly to evolved traits.
Page 93: Contrasting Physiological Responses in Jealousy
Reactions to imagined infidelity raise questions about previously held assumptions in sexual jealousy.
Page 94: Studies on Gender Differences in Personality Traits
Analyzing personality differences among sexes could provide situational context for variances attributed to evolutionary perspectives.
Page 95: Individual Differences in Evolutionary Psychology
Challenges in explaining adaptive patterns relevant to individual variance among environmental contexts.
Page 96: Causes of Jealousy Studies
Investigations into male and female reactions to infidelity bolster evolutionary explanations of emotional distress.
Page 97: Physiological Measures Across Studies
Distinctions in distress responses between genders emphasizes underlying evolutionary theories.
Page 98: Results Supporting Hypothesis on Committed Relationships
Evidence shows distinct responses stemming from prior relationship experiences impact jealousy perspectives.
Page 99: Evolutionary Theory and Traits Framework
Employing Goldberg’s lexical hypothesis reveals significance of basic personality traits across human behavior assessments.
Page 100: Compatibility of Evolutionary Psychology and Big Five Personality Dimensions
Integrating insights may pose challenges, especially if traits lead to disparate conclusions about personality formation.
Page 101: Evolutionary Theory of Suicide
Theory proposes that suicidal behavior arises from perceived reductions in inclusive fitness contributions.
Page 102: Limitations of Evolutionary Psychology
Inferences made concerning historical selection processes; ongoing research needed to understand behavioral mechanisms.
Page 103: Modern Adaptations and Competing Theories
The current environment presents a contrasting backdrop to ancestral circumstances influencing adaptive behavior.
Page 104: Evolutionary Foundations of Personality
Behavioral understanding hinges on underlying evolutionary mechanisms, solidifying approaches in psychological theory.
Page 105: Opposing Views on Evolutionary Psychology
Critics argue focus on genetic responses overshadows diverse interactions with contemporary society and behaviors.
Page 106: Gender Differences and Evolutionary Implications
Feminism raises salient questions around interpretations of data, emphasizing restrained social constructs.
Page 107: Evolutionary Psychology’s Resurgence
Late 20th-century developments repositioned the evolutionary approach as vital to comprehending psychological frameworks amidst criticism.
Page 108: Summary and Evaluation
Highlight the critical role of selection in evolution emphasizing psychological interpretations through adaptation.
Page 109: References
Key literature supporting the theories and discussions within the discourse of evolutionary psychology.
Page 110: References (continued)
Additional foundational studies and literature integral to understanding evolution's influence in psychology.
Page 112: Questions
A platform enabling further inquiries and dialogue concerning the topics covered.
NoteStudied by 42 peopleNoteStudied by 22 peopleNoteStudied by 15 peopleNoteStudied by 138 peopleNoteStudied by 2 peopleNoteStudied by 796 people