Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the primary finding regarding rats in enriched environments compared to those in impoverished environments?
What was the primary finding regarding rats in enriched environments compared to those in impoverished environments?
Which type of animals are referred to as precocial animals?
Which type of animals are referred to as precocial animals?
What significant evolutionary aspect does the nervous system encompass according to the content?
What significant evolutionary aspect does the nervous system encompass according to the content?
What percentage of psychology research samples come from WEIRD countries?
What percentage of psychology research samples come from WEIRD countries?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key focus of de-colonising psychology?
What is a key focus of de-colonising psychology?
Signup and view all the answers
What does evolutionary psychology primarily study?
What does evolutionary psychology primarily study?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a component of natural selection?
Which of the following is NOT a component of natural selection?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of selection arises from one sex preferring certain characteristics in the opposite sex?
What type of selection arises from one sex preferring certain characteristics in the opposite sex?
Signup and view all the answers
The narrow view of evolutionary psychology suggests that our psychology is adapted for which environment?
The narrow view of evolutionary psychology suggests that our psychology is adapted for which environment?
Signup and view all the answers
Human Behavioral Ecology emphasizes which of the following?
Human Behavioral Ecology emphasizes which of the following?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Gene-Culture Coevolution treat culture as?
What does Gene-Culture Coevolution treat culture as?
Signup and view all the answers
Which period is associated with the significant adaptations in evolutionary psychology's narrow view?
Which period is associated with the significant adaptations in evolutionary psychology's narrow view?
Signup and view all the answers
Why do humans have a preference for sweets according to evolutionary psychology?
Why do humans have a preference for sweets according to evolutionary psychology?
Signup and view all the answers
What do men tend to prioritize in their mating preferences according to evolutionary psychology?
What do men tend to prioritize in their mating preferences according to evolutionary psychology?
Signup and view all the answers
How might natural selection have influenced male promiscuity?
How might natural selection have influenced male promiscuity?
Signup and view all the answers
What are women more likely to prioritize in potential mates based on evolutionary preferences?
What are women more likely to prioritize in potential mates based on evolutionary preferences?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the concept of sexual dimorphism refer to in the context of human evolution?
What does the concept of sexual dimorphism refer to in the context of human evolution?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one reason why female promiscuity may not significantly increase the number of offspring?
What is one reason why female promiscuity may not significantly increase the number of offspring?
Signup and view all the answers
What role does culture play in human behavioral evolution?
What role does culture play in human behavioral evolution?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the pruning of unused brain pathways signify in brain development?
What does the pruning of unused brain pathways signify in brain development?
Signup and view all the answers
What characteristic of domesticated foxes showcases evolutionary principles?
What characteristic of domesticated foxes showcases evolutionary principles?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Evolutionary Psychology
- Evolutionary psychology is the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind
- Evolutionary psychology uses the principles of natural selection to explain how behaviors and mental processes have evolved over time
- Natural selection requires:
- Variation: Individuals have slightly different traits
- Heritability: Individuals pass on traits to offspring
- Selective pressure: More are born than can survive to reproduce
- Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
- Sexual selection arises through preference by one sex for certain characteristics in individuals of the opposite sex.
- Sexual selection does not necessarily promote survival, but increases chances of being chosen for reproduction.
- Kin selection is the aiding of relatives' survival.
- Fitness refers to how well an organism's features "fit" the environment.
- Reproductive fitness is the ability to successfully pass on genes to the next generation.
- Evolution is a synchronic and diachronic process.
- Darwinian Evolution + Mendelian Genetics = Modern Evolutionary Synthesis
Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Evolutionary Psychology (broadly) – studies the development of the human mind in evolution.
- Evolutionary Psychology (narrow view) – focuses on the Santa-Barbara School of EP, which postulates that human psychology is a set of adaptations for a Hunter-Gatherer environment (1.8 my - 10 000 ya).
- Human Behavioral Ecology emphasizes that our psychology adapts to the current environment. It is less concerned with past environments.
- Gene-Culture Coevolution theory posits that culture acts as a selective pressure and drives evolution.
- Social learning and culture lead to niche construction, which changes the environment and needs to be accounted for in evolutionary studies.
An Evolutionary Explanation: Male–Female Differences in Sexuality
- Men tend to think about sex more than women.
- Men are more likely to find casual sex acceptable.
- Evolutionary psychology suggests that male promiscuity was more likely to spread genes compared to female promiscuity.
- Promiscuity in men carries little cost in terms of spreading genes, but for women, it does not significantly increase the number of offspring and comes with greater survival costs.
An Evolutionary Explanation: Male–Female Differences in Mating Preferences
- Men prefer women with signs of future fertility, including a narrow waist and fuller figure, and who are within the age of peak fertility.
- Women prefer men who exhibit loyal behavior and have physical/social power and resources.
- Evolutionary psychology suggests that these preferences are based on the need to optimize the chance of producing offspring (men) and ensuring offspring survival (women).
Mating and Parenting
- Sexual dimorphism refers to the differences in physical characteristics between males and females of a species.
- Concealed ovulation is a phenomenon where the timing of ovulation is not outwardly apparent in females.
Parenting & Alloparenting
- Alloparenting refers to childcare provided by individuals other than the biological parents.
Sociality
- Humans are social creatures and have evolved complex social systems.
Neoteny and Paedomorphism
- Neoteny refers to the retention of juvenile features into adulthood.
- Paedomorphism is a type of neoteny where sexual maturity occurs before the full development of adult features.
Self-domestication
- Dmitry Belyaev's research on domesticated foxes showed that selection for a single behavioral trait (tameness) can lead to associated changes in phenotype, including changes in the shape of the skull and brain.
- Self-domestication is a theoretical process that suggests humans have undergone similar selection pressures as domesticated animals, resulting in changes in morphology, behavior, and brain structure.
Neanderthals
- Neanderthals were a species of hominid that lived in Europe and Asia from about 500,000 to 40,000 years ago.
- Neanderthals had relatively large brains (1300 – 1600 cm3) and were adapted to cold climates.
Denisovans
- Denisovans are a distinct group of archaic humans that were discovered based on genetic analysis of a finger bone fragment found in Denisova Cave in Siberia.
- Denisovans likely interbred with modern humans and contributed to the genomes of some present-day populations.
Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH)
- Anatomically modern humans (AMH) appeared around 250,000 years ago.
Culture & Behavioral Modernity
- Cultural evolution is a process of change in cultural traits over time.
- Behavioral modernity is a set of behaviors and cognitive abilities that are considered characteristic of modern humans, such as advanced tool use, symbolic language, and complex social structures.
Culture
- Culture refers to shared patterns of behavior, beliefs, and values that are passed down from generation to generation.
- Culture shapes the way we structure the environment
- Culture is both a way of life and an adaptation, allowing humans to adapt to a variety of environments.
Experience and Brain Development
- The interplay of nature and nurture shapes synapses in the brain.
- Well-used brain pathways are strengthened, while unused connections are pruned away through a process called synaptic pruning.
- Abilities that are not used can fade.
- Brain development does not end in childhood. Plasticity allows neural tissue to change and reorganize in response to new experiences.
- Experiments with enriched and impoverished environments in rats have shown that sensory experiences influence brain development, particularly in the cerebral cortex.
- This research has led to improvements in environments for both animals and children in institutions.
- The concept of innate versus learned abilities is complex. Individual learning plays a crucial role in evolution.
"Innate" vs "Learned"
- Precocial animals are maturely born, while altricial animals are immaturely born.
- Differences in learning and play behavior can be observed between precocial and altricial animals.
The Evolution of the Nervous System
- Severcov argued that increased cognitive ability in animals allows for quicker adaptation to changing environments.
- Anokhin stated that evolutionary pressure prioritizes the nervous system.
- The Allen Brain Institute found that 80% of genes under selection are active in the brain (mice and humans), highlighting the importance of the nervous system in evolution.
What is so special about the human brain?
- The human brain is distinguished by its large size, complexity, and capacity for abstract thought and language.
- Humans have a remarkable capacity for social interaction, cooperation, and culture.
Cross-Cultural Psychology
- The majority of psychology research samples come from countries categorized as WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic).
- Over 98% of developmental psychology research comes from WEIRD countries.
WEIRD Psychology and Coloniality
- WEIRD psychology has been criticized for being biased toward a limited worldview, as the samples are not representative of the diversity of human cultures.
- Coloniality refers to the ongoing systemic power imbalances that are rooted in colonial history.
De-colonizing Psychology (non-WEIRD)
- De-colonizing psychology involves challenging WEIRD biases and expanding research to include a broader range of cultures.
- This includes diversifying research samples, methods, approaches, topics, perspectives, and researchers.
Conclusion
- The study of evolutionary psychology provides a framework for understanding the origins and development of human behavior and mind.
- Understanding both nature and nurture is crucial to understanding the complexities of human behavior and cognition.
- Cross-cultural psychology plays a vital role in promoting inclusivity and diversity in research by studying a wider range of cultures.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz explores the principles of evolutionary psychology, focusing on how behaviors and mental processes have evolved through natural selection. Key concepts such as sexual selection, kin selection, and fitness are discussed, providing a comprehensive understanding of this fascinating field. Test your knowledge on the evolution of behavior and mind!
