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Questions and Answers
What is one of the prerequisites for evolution by natural selection?
What is one of the prerequisites for evolution by natural selection?
What is favored by evolution by natural selection?
What is favored by evolution by natural selection?
What is the main focus of proximate causes?
What is the main focus of proximate causes?
What is the ultimate purpose of natural selection?
What is the ultimate purpose of natural selection?
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What does the norm of reaction tell us about a facultative trait?
What does the norm of reaction tell us about a facultative trait?
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What is an example of a facultative adaptation?
What is an example of a facultative adaptation?
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What is the main idea behind evolutionary psychology's view of the interaction between genes and the environment?
What is the main idea behind evolutionary psychology's view of the interaction between genes and the environment?
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What is the main idea behind the SSSM model?
What is the main idea behind the SSSM model?
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What is the concept of 'blank slate' according to SSSM?
What is the concept of 'blank slate' according to SSSM?
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What is the main critique of SSSM from an evolutionary perspective?
What is the main critique of SSSM from an evolutionary perspective?
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What is the term for the amount of phenotypic variation that is due to genetic differences?
What is the term for the amount of phenotypic variation that is due to genetic differences?
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What is the function of the sense of taste according to evolutionary principles?
What is the function of the sense of taste according to evolutionary principles?
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What is the term for the sensation that is intended to detect insects or disease-spreading parasites?
What is the term for the sensation that is intended to detect insects or disease-spreading parasites?
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What is the mechanism by which a gene can spread through the population according to kin selection?
What is the mechanism by which a gene can spread through the population according to kin selection?
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What is the function of language according to evolutionary principles?
What is the function of language according to evolutionary principles?
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What is the term for the smallest meaningful combination of phonemes in a language?
What is the term for the smallest meaningful combination of phonemes in a language?
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What is the term for the rules that govern sound changes in morphemes?
What is the term for the rules that govern sound changes in morphemes?
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What is the concept that suggests that human behavior is shaped by specialized modules built by natural selection?
What is the concept that suggests that human behavior is shaped by specialized modules built by natural selection?
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What is the primary factor that contributes to the risk of child abuse and neglect in step-parenting?
What is the primary factor that contributes to the risk of child abuse and neglect in step-parenting?
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What is the primary distinction between evolutionary and traditional psychology?
What is the primary distinction between evolutionary and traditional psychology?
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What is the environment of evolutionary adaptedness (EEA) defined as?
What is the environment of evolutionary adaptedness (EEA) defined as?
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What is the primary issue with the 'blank slate' view of the human mind?
What is the primary issue with the 'blank slate' view of the human mind?
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Why are individuals considered better vehicles for genes than species?
Why are individuals considered better vehicles for genes than species?
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What is natural selection, according to evolutionary psychology?
What is natural selection, according to evolutionary psychology?
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What is the most useful criterion to determine if something is an evolved adaptation?
What is the most useful criterion to determine if something is an evolved adaptation?
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What is the difference between facultative adaptations and susceptibilities?
What is the difference between facultative adaptations and susceptibilities?
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Why do evolutionary psychologists think there should be many distinct and specialized learning mechanisms?
Why do evolutionary psychologists think there should be many distinct and specialized learning mechanisms?
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What is an example of a facultative adaptation?
What is an example of a facultative adaptation?
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What does the concept of morphology in grammar refer to?
What does the concept of morphology in grammar refer to?
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What is the primary function of rationality in cognition?
What is the primary function of rationality in cognition?
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What is the term for the assumption that the past predicts the future?
What is the term for the assumption that the past predicts the future?
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What is the primary function of emotions, according to evolutionary psychology?
What is the primary function of emotions, according to evolutionary psychology?
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Which of the following emotions signals a fitness-decreasing situation?
Which of the following emotions signals a fitness-decreasing situation?
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What is the term for the tendency to favor those in one's own group over outsiders?
What is the term for the tendency to favor those in one's own group over outsiders?
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What is the primary function of anger, according to Aaron Sell's theory?
What is the primary function of anger, according to Aaron Sell's theory?
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What is the primary function of the Cheater Detection Task?
What is the primary function of the Cheater Detection Task?
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What is the primary function of functional dissociation in psychology?
What is the primary function of functional dissociation in psychology?
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What is the primary cause of parent-offspring conflict, according to evolutionary psychology?
What is the primary cause of parent-offspring conflict, according to evolutionary psychology?
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Study Notes
Evolutionary Psychology
- Evolution by natural selection favors genes that build phenotypes that are good at transmitting those replicators to future generations.
- Natural selection builds adaptations that are good for the gene, not the species, group, or individual.
Proximate and Ultimate Causes
- Proximate causes: Hormonal triggers that prime behavior, and the development of an organism.
- Ultimate causes: Adaptation (functional part), phylogeny (evolutionary tree), and teleology (use of ultimate purpose or design).
Facultative Adaptations and Susceptibilities
- Facultative adaptations: Phenotypic changes induced by environmental change that augment fitness (e.g., UVb-dependent suntanning).
- Facultative susceptibilities: Phenotypic changes induced by environmental change that reduce fitness.
Human Nature
- Standard Social Science Model (SSSM): A blank slate on which culture and experience make their mark.
- Evolutionary Psychology (EP): A large collection of specialized modules built by selection to address the specific challenges that faced our ancestors over human evolution.
Heritability
- Heritability (h2): The amount of phenotypic variation that is due to genetic differences (Vg / (Vg + Ve)).
- Selection is more effective when heritability is higher.
Themes in Sensation and Perception
- Adapted to species-specific risks and opportunities (e.g., bat sonar, butterfly taste receptors).
- Shaped by sources of relevant data that provide insight into the relevant selection pressures (e.g., human taste).
Language
- Language is an adaptation that has been built by natural selection because of its contribution to reproductive success in ancestral hominin populations.
- Language Elements: Phonemes, morphemes, morphophonemic rules, grammar, and syntax.
Social Learning and Cognition
- Social learning: Depends on its costs and benefits, with social learning being advantageous when it is cheap and the environment changes slowly.
- Cognition: Most of our thinking happens without us being aware of it, involving sorting things into categories to make sense of the world.
Emotions and Moral Intuitions
- Emotions: Anger, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise, and disgust are adaptations designed to accomplish particular functions.
- Moral intuitions: Adaptations that help individuals anticipate and avoid actions that could harm their reputation, thus promoting social cooperation and support.
Kin Selection and Reciprocity
- Kin selection: Passing genes to the next generation through helping genetic relatives to reproduce.
- Reciprocity: A model for the evolution of altruism.
In-group Bias and Coalitional Psychology
- In-group bias: Favors those in their own group over outsiders due to evolutionary pressures favoring cooperation within groups for survival and resource acquisition.
- Coalitional psychology: Present in the common ancestor of chimps and humans, leading to negative judgments and disparagement of out-group members.
Social Pathology
- Parent-offspring conflict: Rooted in genetic relatedness, a natural outcome within families despite evolutionary selection for reduced conflict.
- Sibling conflicts: Different perspectives on resource allocation among family members, influenced by genetic relatedness.
- Step-parenting: Poses a significant risk factor for child abuse and neglect, highlighting the impact of genetic relatedness on parental care and behavior.
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Description
This quiz covers the prerequisites for evolution by natural selection, including variation, heritability, and replication, as well as the proximate causes of behavioral development.