Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following is a need identified for humans during the Pleistocene Era?
Which of the following is a need identified for humans during the Pleistocene Era?
- Maintain friendships (correct)
- Invent advanced technology
- Construct permanent shelters
- Travel long distances for trade
In the context of the needs of the Pleistocene Era, which psychological trait would help in interpreting social situations correctly?
In the context of the needs of the Pleistocene Era, which psychological trait would help in interpreting social situations correctly?
- Superior hunting techniques
- Empathy and emotional recognition (correct)
- Advanced tool-making skills
- Excellent physical strength
Natural selection in the Pleistocene Era would likely favor which trait related to assisting children?
Natural selection in the Pleistocene Era would likely favor which trait related to assisting children?
- Ability to gather resources quickly
- Tendency to be solitary
- Motivation to assist children (correct)
- Inhibition of aggression
Which challenge arises when studying the hypotheses regarding needs in the Pleistocene Era?
Which challenge arises when studying the hypotheses regarding needs in the Pleistocene Era?
Pleiotropy refers to which of the following?
Pleiotropy refers to which of the following?
Which of the following best describes polygenic traits?
Which of the following best describes polygenic traits?
In the evolutionary methodology, the first step is to identify needs in which historical context?
In the evolutionary methodology, the first step is to identify needs in which historical context?
Which of the following is NOT a potential problem in identifying psychological traits that fulfill Pleistocene needs?
Which of the following is NOT a potential problem in identifying psychological traits that fulfill Pleistocene needs?
What does phenotypic plasticity refer to?
What does phenotypic plasticity refer to?
Which statement about pleiotropy is correct?
Which statement about pleiotropy is correct?
What does the term polygenic traits mean?
What does the term polygenic traits mean?
What is a characteristic of spandrels in evolution?
What is a characteristic of spandrels in evolution?
Which methodology in evolutionary psychology identifies traits from our past to explain current behaviors?
Which methodology in evolutionary psychology identifies traits from our past to explain current behaviors?
Which of the following is a challenge associated with the backwards method in evolutionary psychology?
Which of the following is a challenge associated with the backwards method in evolutionary psychology?
In regard to natural selection, which of the following is true?
In regard to natural selection, which of the following is true?
What does the presence of multiple phenotypes from the same gene indicate?
What does the presence of multiple phenotypes from the same gene indicate?
What is one of the first steps in the evolutionary psychology methodology?
What is one of the first steps in the evolutionary psychology methodology?
What might a trait being a spandrel imply about its evolutionary significance?
What might a trait being a spandrel imply about its evolutionary significance?
Which statement reflects a plausible reaction to research in evolutionary psychology?
Which statement reflects a plausible reaction to research in evolutionary psychology?
What characteristic does the 'grandmother hypothesis' suggest about women?
What characteristic does the 'grandmother hypothesis' suggest about women?
How does evolutionary psychology propose that traits in contemporary people can be traced back?
How does evolutionary psychology propose that traits in contemporary people can be traced back?
Which of the following describes a concern regarding the traits that may be identified as having been selected for in evolutionary psychology?
Which of the following describes a concern regarding the traits that may be identified as having been selected for in evolutionary psychology?
Which of these options illustrates a characteristic of phenotypic plasticity?
Which of these options illustrates a characteristic of phenotypic plasticity?
How can explanations involving polygenic traits complicate evolutionary psychology?
How can explanations involving polygenic traits complicate evolutionary psychology?
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Study Notes
Phenotypic Plasticity
- Same gene can lead to different phenotypes in different environments
- Male salamanders eat their young under stress
Pleiotropy
- Same gene contributes to multiple phenotypes
- Mutation in PAH gene contributes to lighter skin, musty body odor, and seizures
Polygenic Traits
- Multiple genes contribute to a single phenotype
- Height is determined by multiple genes
Spandrels
- Some phenotypes are byproducts of other selected phenotypes
- Examples: belly button, chins
Evolutionary Psychology: Backwards Method
- Identify a trait and then its evolutionary explanation
- Problem: Easy to create just-so stories
Evolutionary Psychology: Forward Method
- Identify needs in the Pleistocene Era
- Consider other traits that might have resulted from those needs
- Traits might result from more general traits that were selected
Evolutionary Psychology: Method
- Identify needs in the Pleistocene Era and the psychological traits that fulfilled those needs
- Look for those traits in contemporary people
- Conclude that traits were selected to meet Pleistocene era needs
- Problems include:
- Traits could be spandrels
- Traits could be historical accidents
Evolutionary Psychology: Applications
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Face Perception
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Vinken, Konkle, Livingstone et al. 2022: Study showed that people are better at recognizing faces when they are upright
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Aversions
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Phobias
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Mate Selection
Evolutionary Psychology: Example Rules
- Rule 1: "If a person goes into Boston, then that person takes the subway”
- Rule 2: "If a person is drinking beer, then they must be older than 20”
Evolutionary Psychology: Applications
- The Grandmother Hypothesis: Women live past menopause to care for their grandchildren
Evolutionary Psychology: Conclusions
- Evolution shaped our minds
- Plausible guesses can be made about this role
- Unclear how many traits were selected for
Evolutionary Psychology: Forward Method - Needs in Pleistocene Era
- Avoid incest
- Identify plant food sources
- Attend alarm cries
- Detect when children need assistance
- Be motivated to assist children
- Select mates of high reproductive value
- Induce potential mates to choose them
Evolutionary Psychology: Forward Method - Needs in Pleistocene Era
- Interpret social situations correctly
- Inhibit a mate from conceiving children with another
- Help relatives
- Deter aggression
- Maintain friendships
- Recognize emotions
Evolutionary Psychology: Problems with Method
- Hard to test hypotheses about the Pleistocene Era
- Why not earlier or later eras?
- Lots of needs in the Pleistocene Era weren't met
- Needs could've been met through learning and culture
- Traits could be byproducts of individual genes selected for other traits
- Traits could be products of multiple genes selected for other traits
- Traits might be a result of genes and current environment
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