Evolutionary Psychology and Human Evolution

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Questions and Answers

Which event is considered a significant turning point in the development of Homo sapiens approximately 70,000 years ago?

Industrial revolution

Digital revolution

Cognitive revolution (correct)

Agricultural revolution

What does evolutionary psychology (EP) mainly seek to understand?

The physiological changes in Homo sapiens

The impact of technology on human behavior

The development of language in human societies

The design of the human mind (correct)

Which principle of evolutionary psychology suggests that the brain consists of specialized circuits for different adaptive problems?

The brain is a physical system governed by chemistry

Modern skulls house a Stone Age mind

Neural circuits designed by natural selection (correct)

Most of what the mind does is hidden from awareness

What aspect of human behavior is linked to the evolutionary shaping of the brain?

Genetic predispositions Signup and view all the answers

What does the statement 'our modern skulls house a Stone Age mind' imply?

Human cognition has not significantly changed over millennia Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of cognitive processes in the evolutionary history of Homo sapiens?

Cognitive functions were shaped to solve adaptive problems Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle stating 'most of what the mind does is hidden from conscious awareness' suggest?

There are many unconscious processes influencing behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors contributed to the social structures of early hunter-gatherer groups?

Egalitarian social structures Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept of the 'environment of evolutionary adaptiveness' (EEA)?

The environment in which humans evolved and adapted over time. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the seven evolutionary predictions regarding aggression?

Forming alliances with competing groups. Signup and view all the answers

Why is there a mismatch between modern diets and those from the EEA?

Current food availability leads to high consumption of unhealthy foods. Signup and view all the answers

What methodological approach does comparative evolutionary psychology utilize?

A blend of developmental, phylogenetic, and cross-cultural perspectives. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential criticism of evolutionary psychology mentioned in the content?

It often relies on speculative assumptions about the EEA. Signup and view all the answers

What does the cultural intelligence hypothesis suggest?

Humans developed specialized skills for social cognition. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a mismatch related to human fears?

Fear of natural predators like snakes and spiders. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'just so stories' refer to in criticisms of evolutionary psychology?

Speculative narratives that explain evolution retrospectively. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about aggression in evolutionary psychology is accurate?

Aggression is thought to arise from context-sensitive psychological mechanisms. Signup and view all the answers

How does the developmental perspective contribute to understanding behavior in comparative psychology?

Earlier traits are less likely to be dependent on socio-cultural learning. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hunter-Gatherer Lifestyle and Human Evolution

Homo sapiens existed for 200,000 years, living in groups of families.
Social structures likely more egalitarian.
Labor division common.
High child mortality, but long lifespans possible.

Cognitive Revolution

Occurred 70,000 years ago.

Industrial and Digital Revolutions

Industrial revolution: 200 years ago.
Digital revolution: 20 years ago.

Evolution and Human Behavior

Genes and psychology are intimately linked.
Cognition, behavior, learning, and culture depend on brains.
Physiology and behavior depend on genes; forces that shaped our bodies also shaped our psychology.

Evolutionary Psychology (EP)

An approach to understanding the human mind's design.
A way of thinking applicable to all psychology domains.
Not a specific area of study.
The mind is a collection of information-processing mechanisms, designed by natural selection to address problems faced by hunter-gatherer ancestors.

Five Principles of Evolutionary Psychology

The brain is a physical system governed by laws of chemistry and physics.
Brain circuits were designed by natural selection to solve problems faced by ancestors.
Most of the mind's operations are hidden from conscious awareness.
Different neural circuits specialize in solving different adaptive problems.
Modern minds evolved during the Stone Age.

Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness (EEA)

The environment in which humans evolved.
Modern challenges misalign with EEA.

Mismatch Example 1: Fear

EEA fears (snakes, spiders) are more prevalent than modern fears (cars, guns).
Infants demonstrate fear responses to snakes and spiders.

Mismatch Example 2: Diet

Unhealthy modern diets contribute to health issues (diabetes, heart disease).
Cravings for high-sugar, high-fat foods.
EEA: limited sugar (honey, fruit) and fat (lean game).
Modern abundance mismatches ancestral needs.

Evolutionary Psychology of Aggression

Aggression is a context-dependent response to social challenges.
Seven evolutionary predictions regarding aggression.

Criticisms of Evolutionary Psychology

Methodology issues:
Difficulty testing backwards inferences
"Just-so stories"
Uncertainties about EEA pressures.
Example: gender differences in spatial reasoning.
Interpretations:
Eugenics (selective breeding)
Feminist concerns
Panglossianism (everything is perfect)
Naturalistic fallacy
Genetic determinism
Non-genetic explanations
Non-adaptive explanations.

Comparative Evolutionary Psychology

Addresses EP's limitations by relying less on speculation about the EEA.
Uses a comparative approach to study behavior origins.
Combines developmental, phylogenetic, and cross-cultural perspectives.

Comparative Evolutionary Psychology Methods

Developmental: Early emergence suggests less reliance on social learning.
Cross-cultural: Consistency suggests less social learning dependence.
Cross-species: Examines if similar traits exist in other species.

The cultural intelligence hypothesis suggests human specialization in social cognition.

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Description

Explore the fascinating connections between human evolution, cognition, and behavior in this quiz. From the hunter-gatherer lifestyle to the cognitive revolution and modern biopsychology, delve into how our genetic and cultural histories shape who we are today. Understand the principles of evolutionary psychology and its relevance to human behavior.