Ecology and Life History Theory Quiz

Resources and Competition

• Resource availability influences reproductive strategies and social behavior.
• High patchiness in resources leads to stronger competition and increased conflict.
• Unpredictable environments promote risk-taking and novel food consumption.
• Low resource availability results in delayed reproduction, increased cooperation, and more conservative resource use.
• Patchiness can lead to social jealousy, while unpredictability fosters a preference for immediate gratification.

Life History Theory

• High mortality rates are associated with younger ages at marriage and teen pregnancies.
• Environments with high mortality often lead to more short-term relationship strategies.
• Individuals exposed to violence may prioritize immediate rewards, such as marriage and children.
• These environments can heighten vigilance and fear, potentially increasing violent tendencies.
• Collectivism is a common trait observed in these high-mortality contexts.

Pathogen Threats and Behavioral Responses

• Constant exposure to microbes and pathogens influences immune systems and behaviors.
• Stronger immunity genes may increase susceptibility to infectious diseases.
• Infectious diseases are a major cause of mortality, particularly in children.
• The human immune system is complex, involving both classical and behavioral responses.
• Physical defenses like skin provide the first line of defense against pathogens.
• Disgust is a key behavioral response to pathogen threats; it's sensitive to potential contact routes like physical interaction.
• Avoidance of potential sources of infection is a significant behavioral response (e.g. food, animals, individuals).
• Signal detection errors include false positives (perceiving a threat that isn't there) and false negatives (failing to recognize a real threat).
• Human psychology biases towards false positives, prioritizing avoidance.
• Avoiding potential pathogens comes with costs (missed opportunities).
• Individuals with perceived weaker immune systems are more inclined to avoid potential risks.
• Disgust is critical for avoiding pathogen transmission, triggered by cues like smell or visible contamination, but also perceived risks.
• This can lead to reduced social engagement.
• This includes prejudice against individuals perceived as higher infection risks (e.g., those with disabilities, obesity).
• Prejudice against unfamiliar groups (ethnocentrism and xenophobia) can also affect interactions.
• Pregnant women in the first trimester, with naturally suppressed immunity, show heightened ethnocentrism and xenophobia.
• This response stems from an ongoing evolutionary "arms race" between hosts and parasites. New versions of pathogens emerge, forcing humans to adapt and develop new immunity.
• Co-evolution means localized immunity adaptations offer protection against local parasites but not others.
• This can potentially lead to prejudice against outgroup members deemed threats to the immune system.
• Examples include specific disease prevalence amongst different populations, leading to immunity adaptations in certain groups.