Evolutionary Psychology on Disgust Responses

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Questions and Answers

What is a primary adaptive problem faced by humans according to Terror Management Theory?

Social dominance hierarchies

Survival in a hostile environment

Formation of cultural identities

Existential Terror (correct)

What is a characteristic of Cultural Worldviews as defined in Terror Management Theory?

They provide individuals with a sense of belonging.

They encourage competition among cultures.

They give life meaning, purpose, and significance. (correct)

They are universally accepted beliefs.

How does existential terror affect human behavior according to the theory?

It promotes social cooperation.

It interferes with goal-directed behavior. (correct)

It enhances goal-directed behavior.

It distracts from survival instincts.

Which of the following is NOT listed as a cause of death related to homicide?

Suicide Signup and view all the answers

What does the potential for existential terror necessitate according to the content?

Formation of Cultural Worldviews Signup and view all the answers

What is a key explanation of the Provisioning Hypothesis?

Hunting requires coordination among male hunters. Signup and view all the answers

Which vitamin is mentioned as critical for human bodily function but cannot be produced by humans?

Vitamin A Signup and view all the answers

What does the Show-Off Hypothesis suggest about men's hunting strategies?

Successful hunters attract more mating opportunities. Signup and view all the answers

What evidence suggests early butchering attempts by humans?

Presence of cut marks on bones. Signup and view all the answers

How does reciprocal altruism relate to food sharing?

Food sharing fosters long-term social bonds. Signup and view all the answers

What role did the sexual division of labor play in early human societies?

Allowed men to specialize in hunting while women gathered. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of meat as a food resource?

Meat is easily transportable over long distances. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT associated with the Provisioning Hypothesis?

Improved outcomes from individualistic food gathering. Signup and view all the answers

What does the preference for sweet food in humans primarily indicate?

High caloric value Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT considered a hostile force of nature that affects human evolution?

Cultural practices Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does the preference for salty food provide to humans?

Replenishes sodium necessary for neural activities Signup and view all the answers

What was one outcome of the global cooling that occurred millions of years ago?

Enhancement of hunting skills in humans Signup and view all the answers

How did the human digestive system evolve in terms of processing food?

Adapted for processing meat in the small intestine Signup and view all the answers

In what way do evolved food preferences contribute to human survival?

By solving adaptive problems of food-seeking Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is primarily cited as a filter for human reproduction in the context of hostile forces of nature?

Adaptive problem solutions Signup and view all the answers

Which food preference demonstrates a correlation with caloric value among hunter-gatherers?

Preference for sweet foods Signup and view all the answers

What physiological response is associated with disgust?

Increased body temperature Signup and view all the answers

How do women generally compare to men in terms of disgust sensitivity?

Women tend to be more easily disgusted Signup and view all the answers

What is the first stage of habitat selection according to Orians and Heerwagen?

Selection Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following environments is suggested to provide better well-being according to the Savanna Principle?

Rural environments with low population density Signup and view all the answers

What does the Savanna Hypothesis propose about human habitat preference?

Preference for environments with abundant resources Signup and view all the answers

In the second stage of habitat selection, what do humans primarily do?

Gather information about risks and benefits Signup and view all the answers

What is a common maladaptive output for individuals living in urban cities as per the Savanna Principle?

Lower well-being despite high population density Signup and view all the answers

What triggers a strong memory for potential sources of contamination?

Affective responses to disgust Signup and view all the answers

What happens to telomeres as we age?

They shorten with each cell replication. Signup and view all the answers

What external factors can exacerbate the aging process?

UV radiation and stress Signup and view all the answers

According to the Pleiotropic Theory of Senescence, what is a potential consequence of certain genes?

They promote early-life fitness but pose later-life risks. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Evolved Suicide Adaptation Hypothesis suggest about suicide occurrences?

It is likely to occur when one's ability to contribute to inclusive fitness is dramatically reduced. Signup and view all the answers

What do maladaptive by-product hypothesis proponents argue about suicidal ideation?

It may be an adaptive call for help during distressing times. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common concern that correlates with suicidal ideation?

Financial problems Signup and view all the answers

How does natural selection influence genes according to the Pleiotropic Theory?

It weakly affects genes benefiting early life despite later drawbacks. Signup and view all the answers

What role do telomeres play in the aging process?

They protect chromosomes but shorten over time. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hostile Forces of Nature

Hostile forces impacting human survival include extreme climates, harsh weather, toxins, pathogens, predators, and interhuman violence.
Adaptive challenges recurring over generations filter individuals who fail to reproduce.
Solutions to these problems enhance survival and reproductive success.

Food Acquisition and Selection

Evolved food preferences help address food-seeking challenges.
Preference for sweet foods correlates with high caloric value; honey preferred over tubers.
Salty food is favored for sodium replenishment, crucial for neural activity.

Hunting Hypothesis

Global cooling led to a decline in plant-based food sources, increasing the reliance on animal hunting.
Human digestive systems are more suited for meat digestion; inability to produce crucial vitamins A and B12 found in meat.
Paleontological evidence includes cut marks on bones, indicating early butchering practices.

Provisioning Hypothesis

Large-game hunting requires strong male coalitions and coordinated action.
Transporting meat calories is more efficient than lower-caloric food over long distances.
Sexual division of labor: Men hunt, while women gather, facilitating resource investment in offspring.

Show-Off Hypothesis

Risky hunting strategies enhance male status, leading to increased sexual access to women.
Disgust responses are linked to immune reactions; women display higher disgust sensitivity.

Humanity’s Ancestral Home

The Savanna Hypothesis posits humans have evolved to prefer environments providing food, water, and safety.
African savannas meet these survival requirements.

Habitat Selection Stages

Three stages: Selection (initial emotional response to habitat), Information Gathering (exploring risks and benefits), Exploitation (decision to utilize resources).

Departure from Ancestral Environment

The Savanna Principle highlights difficulties in urban environments lacking social connections.
Urban living with isolation is linked to lower well-being compared to rural settings.

Senescence

Aging leads to the deterioration of bodily mechanisms; telomeres shorten with cell replication.
External factors like UV radiation and stress can accelerate aging.

Pleiotropic Theory of Senescence

Some genes promote early-life fitness but may have negative impacts later (e.g., testosterone’s role in health risks).
Natural selection favors genes that enhance early life despite later costs.

Suicide Theories

Evolved Suicide Adaptation Hypothesis suggests suicidal behavior occurs when individual's ability to enhance inclusive fitness declines.
Maladaptive By-Product Hypothesis views suicidal thoughts as a temporary response to fitness-reducing events.

Other Causes of Death

Include homicide (infanticide, mate killing, warfare) and accidental deaths.

Transcending Death

Terror Management Theory addresses existential terror arising from awareness of mortality.
Humans manage this through cultural worldviews, which provide meaning and significance in life.

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Description

Explore the fascinating relationship between disgust and immune responses in evolutionary psychology. Delve into sex differences in disgust sensitivity and how memory plays a role in recognizing potential sources of contamination. This quiz is based on recent research findings in the field.