Evolutionary Psychology: 1.1 introduction

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

When did the chimp-human split occur?

300,000 years ago

100,000-50,000 years ago

~13.8 billion years ago

6-8 billion years ago (correct)

When did Modern Homo sapiens first appear?

6-8 million years ago (correct)

35 million years ago

10,000 years ago

3.5-4 billion years ago

What event occurred about 10,000 years ago?

Dinosaurs go extinct; mammals diversify

Agricultural revolution (correct)

Chimp-human split

Origin of life from non-life

When did the dinosaurs go extinct and mammals diversify?

65 million years ago Signup and view all the answers

When did the first apes evolve?

35 million years ago Signup and view all the answers

According to evolutionary psychologists, why did people evolve the emotion of fear?

To motivate the avoidance of danger Signup and view all the answers

What is the main aim of Charles Darwin's book 'On the Origin of Species'?

To explain evolution through natural selection Signup and view all the answers

What does evolutionary psychology attempt to explain?

The human mind and behavior as products of evolution Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the concept of evolution as per the text?

It explains how species change over time in response to environmental pressures Signup and view all the answers

What was Charles Darwin's contribution to the concept of evolution?

Proposing the idea of natural selection as a mechanism for evolution Signup and view all the answers

Why did gazelles evolve fast legs according to evolutionary biologists?

To outrun predators like lions Signup and view all the answers

What are the two components of inclusive fitness?

Direct fitness and indirect fitness Signup and view all the answers

How is direct fitness defined?

In terms of the individual’s reproductive success Signup and view all the answers

According to Hamilton, adaptations are "designed" by natural selection to enhance what?

Inclusive fitness Signup and view all the answers

What does the "gene’s-eye view" of evolution propose adaptations are designed to benefit?

Genes coding for the adaptations Signup and view all the answers

Why did the emotion of fear evolve according to the gene’s-eye view of evolution?

For the benefit of genes contributing to its development Signup and view all the answers

What is inclusive fitness defined as?

The sum of direct fitness and indirect fitness Signup and view all the answers

What did Richard Dawkins mean when he said 'A monkey is a machine that preserves genes up trees; a fish is a machine that preserves genes in the water'?

The preservation of genes in monkeys and fish is metaphorically compared to machinery. Signup and view all the answers

Why did E.O. Wilson's book 'Sociobiology' spark controversy?

Due to its application of evolutionary theory to social behavior. Signup and view all the answers

How did E.O. Wilson contribute to sociobiology despite being viewed as its founder?

He summarized and synthesized existing research, coined the term 'sociobiology', and focused on nonhuman animals. Signup and view all the answers

How does evolutionary psychology (EP) differ from sociobiology?

EP focuses solely on human behavior while sociobiology does not. Signup and view all the answers

What was one outcome of Wilson's book 'Sociobiology' on the field of evolutionary studies?

It caused an uproar among scientists and the public, particularly regarding human behavior. Signup and view all the answers

How does Richard Dawkins describe genes in relation to monkeys and fish in his metaphor?

'A monkey is a machine that preserves genes up trees; a fish is a machine that preserves genes in the water' serves as a metaphorical description. Signup and view all the answers