Evolutionary Psychology: Definition and Approach

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What is the main focus of evolutionary psychology?

Biological explanations of human behavior

Ultimate explanations of human behavior (correct)

Cultural explanations of human behavior

Proximate explanations of human behavior

What is the norm of reaction?

The description of how genes express traits in varying environments (correct)

The study of how genes affect behavior

The role of culture in shaping human behavior

The study of how environment affects gene expression

What is the main critique of the Standard Social Science Model (SSSM)?

It assumes a blank slate human mind shaped solely by culture and experience (correct)

It only focuses on proximate explanations of human behavior

It emphasizes the role of biology in shaping human behavior

It ignores the role of culture in shaping human behavior

What is the role of culture according to evolutionary psychology?

It is shaped by and shapes human nature, constrained by evolved predispositions Signup and view all the answers

What is a psychological adaptation?

A trait evolved by natural selection to solve a specific adaptive problem Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a sensory adaptation?

Bat sonar Signup and view all the answers

What do fuzzy categories, such as 'bird', demonstrate?

A lack of typicality among members Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of heuristics, according to the evolutionary perspective?

To make quick and reliable judgments in ancestral environments Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of base rate neglect?

Jennifer being more likely to be an English major than a cheerleader Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary driver of moral intuitions, according to the evolutionary perspective?

Reciprocity and reputation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of kin selection, according to the evolutionary perspective?

Explaining family conflicts and cooperation Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of monogamy on parent-offspring conflict, according to the evolutionary perspective?

Reduces conflicts due to shared genetic interest Signup and view all the answers

What is the driving force behind parental investment, according to the evolutionary perspective?

Fitness benefits and genetic relatedness Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of promiscuity on parent-offspring conflict, according to the evolutionary perspective?

Intensifies conflicts due to competing genetic interests Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of language as an adaptation?

To communicate propositional information Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between animal communication and human language?

Human language allows for the expression of an infinite number of ideas Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism of language change according to evolutionary biology?

Descent with modification Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the rules governing the sound patterns in morphemes?

Morphophonemic Rules Signup and view all the answers

What is the advantage of social learning over individual learning?

It is more efficient Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the mental processes for acquiring, processing, storing, and using information?

Cognition Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Evolutionary Psychology (EP)

Definition: Integrates evolutionary biology, biological anthropology, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience to study the evolutionary basis of mind and behavior.
Focus: Ultimate (evolutionary) explanations over proximate (mechanistic) ones.
Critique of SSSM: Challenges the Standard Social Science Model, which assumes a blank slate human mind shaped solely by culture and experience.

Gene-Environment Interaction

Norm of Reaction: Describes how genes express traits in varying environments.
Facultative Responses vs. Susceptibilities: Facultative adaptations are responses to environmental cues shaped by natural selection, while susceptibilities arise from mismatches with modern environments.
Role of Culture: EP sees culture as both shaping and shaped by human nature, not arbitrary but constrained by evolved predispositions.

Controversies and Adaptations

EP vs. SSSM: EP argues for a gene-environment interaction perspective, critiquing SSSM's emphasis on culture and experience as independent of biology.
Psychological Adaptations: Traits evolved by natural selection to solve specific adaptive problems, emphasizing domain-specificity and fitness benefits.
Sensory Systems: Examples like bat sonar illustrate sensory adaptations tailored to species-specific needs.

Language as an Adaptation

Definition: Capacity to learn, produce, and understand language evolved through natural selection.
Function: Communicate propositional information (e.g., who did what to whom, what is true of what).
Evolutionary Context: Language evolved to solve problems relevant to survival and reproduction.
Language Features: Phonemes, morphemes, morphophonemic rules, grammar, and universality.
Evidence for Language as an Adaptation: Complexity, development, pidgins to creoles, dissociation with general intelligence, genetic evidence, and localization in the brain.

Origins of Language: Language likely evolved cumulatively, starting with simple noun-verb relations.
Evolutionary Psychology and Personality: Big Five Personality Traits are more differentiated in complex societies.
Social Learning and Culture: Culture is interpersonally transmitted information essential for human survival.

Cognition

Cognition: Mental processes for acquiring, processing, storing, and using information.
Conscious vs. Unconscious: Much of cognition is unconscious (e.g., phoneme parsing, emotion detection).
Categorical Thinking: Humans categorize to simplify responses and deduce properties from prior experiences.
Evolution of Cognition: Minds evolved to understand natural kinds (biological entities) using fuzzy categories.

Heuristics and Rationality

Rationality: Making judgments under uncertainty; influenced by heuristics (mental shortcuts).
Base Rate Neglect: Tendency to ignore base rates in favor of vivid or available information.
Evolutionary Perspective: Heuristics evolved to solve problems quickly and reliably in ancestral environments.

Evolution of Moral Intuitions

Moral Intuitions: Evolved to navigate social interactions; influenced by reciprocity and reputation.
In-group Bias: Tendency to favor one's group; influenced by minimal distinctions.
Evolutionary Functions: Reputation management, cooperation, and conflict resolution.
Ethical Decision-Making: Balancing individual and group interests for fitness benefits.

Family Dynamics and Evolution

Kin Selection: Evolutionary perspective on family conflicts and cooperation.
Parent-Offspring Conflict: Arises due to differing genetic relatedness and resource allocation.
Impact of Mating Systems: Monogamy reduces conflicts; promiscuity intensifies conflicts (half-siblings).
Parental Investment: Evolved motivations for parental care; risks in step-parenting contexts.

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This quiz covers the definition and fundamental concepts of Evolutionary Psychology, including adaptive evolution and its applications in understanding human behavior.

Evolutionary Psychology: Definition and Approach

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