Evolutionary Psychology PDF

Quiz Please take the quiz: Evolutionary Psychology The Computer Analogy Computer What are the origins its computations? We install operating systems and programs The Computer Analogy Person...

Quiz Please take the quiz: Evolutionary Psychology The Computer Analogy Computer What are the origins its computations? We install operating systems and programs The Computer Analogy Person What are the origins of his computations? Four perspectives: Development, Genes, Environment, Evolution Evolution and the Brain It’s often helpful to know why something was made Evolution and the Brain Evolution is how we were made Evolution and the Brain Evolution explains many of our physical traits Evolution and the Brain … including physical traits of our brains Big brains are “expensive” Evolution and the Brain To what extent can evolution explain our psychological traits? Evolution Evolution: first example First example: The peppered moth Evolution: second example Second example: Galápagos finches Evolution: third example Mouse Can survive without oxygen for 1 minute Evolution: third example Mole Rat Can survive without oxygen for 15 minutes Evolution: third example Mole Rat Pile Evolution: fourth example Sea Slug capable of photosynthesis Evolution: genotypes and phenotypes Evolution: definition of natural selection Natural selection occurs when there’s a change in the frequency of a genotype across generations because those with that genotype are more/less likely to produce viable offspring. Evolution: Phenotypic Plasticity Environment 1 Phenotype 1 Gene Environment 2 Phenotype 2 The same gene gives rise to different phenotypes in different environments Evolution: Phenotypic Plasticity Male salamanders eat their young when under stress The same gene gives rise to different phenotypes in different environments Evolution: Pleiotropy Phenotype 1 Gene Phenotype 2 The same gene simultaneously contributes to multiple phenotypes Evolution: Pleiotropy Lighter skin Mutation in Musty body odor PAH gene Seizures The same gene simultaneously contributes to multiple phenotypes Evolution: Polygenic Traits Phenotype 1 Gene Gene Multiple genes contributes to the same phenotype Evolution: Polygenic Traits Height Multiple genes contributes to the same phenotype Evolution: Spandrels Gene Phenotype 1 Phenotype 2 Some phenotypes are non-selected byproducts of other phenotypes that were selected Evolution: Spandrels Some phenotypes are non-selected byproducts of other phenotypes that were selected Evolutionary Psychology: Methodology Evolutionary Psychology: Backwards Method 1. Identify one of our traits 2. Identify an evolutionary explanation for it Problem: It is too easy to indulge in just-so stories E.g. Why do people laugh? Evolutionary Psychology: Forward Method 1. Identify our needs in the Pleistocene Era Pleistocene Era Roughly 1,800,000 to 10,000 years ago Rough 400 generations ago Savannas of eastern Africa Small groups of 50-300 Evolutionary Psychology: Forward Method 1. Identify our needs in the Pleistocene Era Needs in Pleistocene Era Avoid incest identify plant foods Attend alarm cries Detect when children need assistance Be motivated to assist children Select mates of high reproductive value Induce potential mates to choose them Evolutionary Psychology: Forward Method 1. Identify our needs in the Pleistocene Era Needs in Pleistocene Era Interpret social situations correctly Inhibit one’s mate from conceiving children by another Help relatives Deter aggression Maintain friendships Recognize emotions Evolutionary Psychology: Method 1. Identify our needs in the Pleistocene Era 2. Identify which psychological traits would fulfil those needs 3. Look for those traits in contemporary people 4. Conclude that the traits were selected to fulfill those needs Evolutionary Psychology: Method 1. Identify our needs in the Pleistocene Era 2. Identify which psychological traits would fulfil those needs 3. Look for those traits in contemporary people 4. Conclude that the traits were selected to fulfill those needs Problems 1. Hard to test hypotheses about the Pleistocene Era 2. Why not earlier or later eras? 3. Lots of needs in Pleistocene Era weren’t met 4. Needs could be met through learning and culture Evolutionary Psychology: Method 1. Identify our needs in the Pleistocene Era 2. Identify which psychological traits would fulfil those needs 3. Look for those traits in contemporary people 4. Conclude that the traits were selected to fulfill those needs Problems 5. Trait could be byproduct of individual gene selected for other traits 6. Trait could be product of multiple genes selected for other traits 7. Trait might be result of gene and current environment. Other traits might have resulted in Pleistocene Era 8. Trait might result from a more general trait that was selected Evolutionary Psychology: Method 1. Identify our needs in the Pleistocene Era 2. Identify which psychological traits would fulfil those needs 3. Look for those traits in contemporary people 4. Conclude that the traits were selected to fulfill those needs Problems 9. Trait could be a spandrel 10. Trait might be an historical accident Evolutionary Psychology: A Cautionary Example Why are human beings the only animals with chins? Evolutionary Psychology: Applications Applications First kind of reaction to research in evolutionary psychology: “Could have happened, sure, makes sense” Applications Second kind of reaction to research in evolutionary psychology: “Eh, I don’t know, I guess that could have happened. I mean, I wouldn’t bet on it, but I’m also not going to fight about it. You do you.” Applications Third kind of reaction to research in evolutionary psychology: “What is Wrong with You??” Evolutionary Psychology: Applications Face Perception Evolutionary Psychology: Applications Vinken, Konkle, Livingstone et al. 2022 Evolutionary Psychology: Applications Face Perception Evolutionary Psychology: Applications Evolutionary Psychology: Applications Aversions Evolutionary Psychology: Applications Phobias Evolutionary Psychology: Applications Mate Selection Evolutionary Psychology: Applications Evolutionary Psychology: Applications Rule: "If a person goes into Boston, then that person takes the subway” Boston Arlington subway cab Evolutionary Psychology: Applications Rule: "If a person is drinking beer, they must be older than 20” Drinking Drinking 25 year-old 16 year-old Beer Coke Evolutionary Psychology: Applications The “grandmother hypothesis”: women live past menopause in order to care for their grandchildren. Evolutionary Psychology Evolutionary psychology Evolutionary Psychology Evolutionary Psychology Evolutionary Psychology Evolutionary Psychology: Conclusions 1. Unquestionably, evolution helped shape our minds 2. In some cases, we can make plausible guesses about that role 3. But it’s unclear how many traits were selected for 4. We shouldn’t make wild guesses