Week 1 (Updated).pdf

PSYC205 Evolutionary Psychology Introduction The Origin Story of the Human Mind Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  Let us introduce ourselves How should...

PSYC205 Evolutionary Psychology Introduction The Origin Story of the Human Mind Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  Let us introduce ourselves How should everyone address you? Which year are you in? What are your interests and hobbies? What do you hope to learn from this class? Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Hello! I’m... Research Interest Edison Sora Tan Evolutionary Psychology Cultural Selection Murdoch University (2019) Evolved Individual Differences BA (Psychology) (Web Communication) Evolutionary Mismatch Life History Theory Singapore Management University (2022) Behavioral Ecology MPhil (Psychology) Darwinian Medicine Singapore Management University (2025) Cultural Psychology PhD (Psychology) Cultural Values, Practices, Norms and Beliefs Motivated Cognition Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories Contact Me Email: [email protected] Teaching Interest Evolutionary Psychology Telegram: Individual Differences and Personality Cultural Psychology @edisonsoratan Quantitative Psychology and Research Methods Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  01 Course Outline Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Learning Outcomes By the end of the course, students would be able to: Explain the ultimate causes of various human cognitions, affects, and behaviors. Apply evolutionary principles to think about various psychological phenomena in modern humans. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Assessments Class Participation – 20% Discussion Questions – 10% Mid-Terms – 30% Finals – 40% Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  Marks Criteria Description Awarded Assessments The student was willing to participate in Discussion 0.5 class discussions when called upon or by Participation volunteering their views. The student showed a motivation to 0.5 Keen Engagement drive at least part of the discussion in Class Participation – 20% class. Graded weekly 0.5 Elaborated Expression The student’s participation was well- thought-out, demonstrating that they Students are expected to have engaged well with the course materials. read class readings prior to The student had shown enthusiastic class to facilitate discussion. interest during class participation by 0.5 Beyond Expectation engaging in related materials beyond expectation. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  Example of a Discussion Question Assessments Evolutionary Mismatch Theory describes how evolved psychological mechanisms are designed to process ancestrally relevant environmental inputs that are now forced or hijacked to differ in quantity and intensity or no longer have the same fitness associations, thereby leading many mechanisms to produce maladaptive output. Discussion Questions – 10% On the other hand, Robertson & Chalfoun (2016) describe the existence of undervalued resources as the opposite of evolutionary mismatch, Please send at least one well-thought-out question such that there are inputs that present themselves as fitness- based on the week’s reading by Saturday, 12 PM, the enhancing opportunities that the organism has not evolved to exploit. week before class. Submit on eLearn. Would there be undervalued resources that human’s evolved psychological mechanisms are not designed to process? When writing your question: provide the specific points of the course reading, the question is crafted to address the context of the question the question itself. Please elaborate on your question if you are called upon in class. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Assessments 70% of testable content will be based on: Required readings Lecture slides Class discussions Mid-Terms – 30% Finals – 40% 10% of testable content will be based on specific books or journal article details covered in the slides or class discussion 20% of testable content will be structured as short essay questions based on the demonstration of critical thinking regarding the application of course content. Details to be provided before assessments Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  Class Schedule Core Long- Kinship Recess Cognitive Evolutionary Revision Concepts Term Biases Mismatch Sexual Strategies Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 (Today) The Short- Cooperation Behavioral Mid-Term Darwinian Finals Introduction Hostile Term & Ecology Medicine Forces of Sexual Aggression Nature Strategies Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Ground Rules Be respectful Disagreements are okay – tell us why you disagree. Have an open mind Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  02 Landmarks of Evolutionary Sciences Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  Discussion What do you know about Evolutionary Psychology? Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  “If I really have as bad an expression as my photograph gives me, how I can have one single friend is surprising.” In Darwin’s personal letter to botanist and close friend Joseph Dalton Hooker about the below portrait. “In the distant future I see open fields for far more important researches. Psychology will be based on a new foundation, that of the necessary acquirement of each mental power and capacity by gradation. Light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history.” ― Charles Robert Darwin, 1809 - 1882 The Origin of Species, pp 499 – 489. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  Pre-Darwnian Concept of Evolution Biologists have made observations before Darwin regarding striking anatomical and developmental similarities between various species. Hommids, including humans, chimpanzees, and orangutans, all have five digits on their hands and feet Human embryos develop strikingly similar to other mammals, birds, and frogs before distinctive characteristics develop Anatomical characteristics are also observed to be functional, serving a purpose. Giraffe’s long neck and turtle’s shells Life is not fixed and unchanging – but how did organisms change? Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  Pre-Darwnian Concept of Evolution Jean Baptiste Lamarck (1744 – 1829, left) Believed that organisms tend to progress toward higher forms Features and characteristics of organisms are inherited Léopold Chrétien Frédérick Dagobert Cuvier’s (1769–1832, right) catastrophism. Proposed that species are extinguished periodically by sudden catastrophes to be replaced by another species Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  Portrait of Charles Darwin, aged 27, shortly after his return to England. Painted by George Richmond (1840) The Legend of the Beagle Following graduation from Cambridge University, Charles Darwin, aged 22, traveled the world abroad HMS Beagle, collecting numerous samples from the Galápagos Islands. On his return, he observed that Galápagos finches, formerly presumed to be the same species, varied so much they constituted a different species. *There are some historical disputes regarding the role of some details in this story towards the development of the Theory of Natural Selection, HMS Beagle Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Galápagos’s Finches Darwin determined that these different finches had a common ancestor but had become distinct from each other because of the local ecological conditions on each island. Darwin concluded that species are not immutable and can change over time. What could account for why species change? “The Struggle for Existence.” Favorable variations tend to be preserved, and unfavorable The ground finches (Geospiza) has a thick beak adapted to feeding ones tend to die out. When this process is repeated generation on a variety of crunchy seeds and arthropods, whereas the warbler finch (Certhidea olivacea) developed a slender, pointy bill after generation, the result is the formation of new adaptations. to catch tasty insects hiding between the foliage. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Theory of Natural Selection 01 Variation 02 Inheritance Organisms vary across a multitude of Some of the attributes that vary are dimensions of attributes (e.g., structural inherited and reliably passed down to complexity, anatomy, cellular structure, offspring over generations physical and psychological abilities, traits) 03 Selection (via differential reproduction success) Organisms with heritable attributes reproduce and have more offsprings as those attributes help overcome the problem of survival and reproduction Important note! Reproductive success is the bottom line and the end-all of selection. “Fitness” in evolutionary sciences refers to the odds of an organism with a certain attribute surviving till reproduction. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Sexual Selection Survival is a necessary but not a sufficient prerequisite to reproductive success. Specific attributes that appear to serve no survival function or even be costly to survival would not have been favored by natural selection but persisted in several organisms. E.g., Male peacocks’ plumage Dakin et al. (2016) The existence of these traits can be explained by an alternate selection process: Sexual Selection. Adaptation that arose as a consequence of successful mating – not survival. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  Boys of a Feather by Kasia Babis Sexual Selection Intra-sexual Inter-sexual Competition Competition Competition between members of the same Manifest as preferential mate choices sex. Individuals who display superior Individuals of the opposite sex with characteristics during intrasexual advantageous characteristics are preferred competition gain sexual access to mates as mates. directly or indirectly (e.g., controlling e.g., ability and willingness to offer territory or resources). gifts of food and other resources to desired mates Superior attributes that are inheritable are Individuals who do not possess passed down to offspring, conferring advantageous characteristics are less likely offspring with intrasexual competitive to be chosen as mates, reducing advantages. reproductive odds. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Important Notes about Natural and Sexual Selection Natural and Sexual Selection is not the only driver of evolutionary change – random changes (i.e., genetic drift) can occur Mutation Founders Effect Genetic Bottleneck Selection is not “intentional.” Selection merely acts on variances that exist based on recurrent advantages for survival and reproduction that the characteristic confers Selection cannot anticipate future demands Selection is gradual, some rapid, others over generations. May depend on the complexity of the organism (e.g., changes happen to viruses faster than mammals) Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Darwinism after Darwin Classic Darwinism Variation Inheritance Selection Modern Synthesis (Neo-Darwinism) Integrated Synthesis Mendelian Post-Synthesis Genetic Inclusive-Fitness Mutation and Kin Selection Genetic Inheritance Ethology Etc. Evo-Developmental e.g., Life History Theory Theories Multilevel Selection e.g., Cultural Selection Adaptive Lags e.g., Evolutionary Mismatch Etc. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Mendelian Genetics Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection did not define by which mechanism inheritance occurred. From 1856 to 1863, Gregor Johann Mendel (1822 – 1884) carried out pioneering experiments on heredity in garden peas. He crossed-bred peas with seven pairs of pure-bred traits by painstakingly transferring pollens (reportedly with a paintbrush) and vigorously documenting the characteristics of their offspring. He proposed that there are hereditary elements that determine traits (now called genes) and established the law of inheritance. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University The Ethology Movement Chittka (2004) Although more typically associated with physical characteristics, Darwin had envisioned that natural selection could be applied to behavior. There is a clear association between the existence of physical characteristics and the existence of behaviors: Behaviors require support from anatomic and biomechanical infrastructure for enactment. Capacity and propensity for behaviors have been demonstrated to be heritable. An adaptation in the form of a physical characteristic requires organisms to enact behaviors that make use of the adaptation so that organisms can Honeybee workers perform the waggle dance to indicate the range benefit from it. and direction of food. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University The Ethology Movement In 1935, zoologist Konrad Lorenz described a form of learning behavior in young ducklings and goslings known as imprinting. They learn to follow real or foster parents at a certain critical stage (i.e., soon after hatching). By showing that imprinting occurs shortly after birth, Lorenz demonstrates the innate nature of imprinting Served an adaptive function of keeping close to caregivers that would ensure the duckling’s survival Later understood as fixed action patterns – a stereotypic behavioral sequence an animal follows after being triggered by a well-defined stimulus Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Inclusive Fitness William D. Hamilton reasons that what constitutes fitness – how well an organism successfully passes on their genes through reproduction – in classical Darwinism is too narrow a definition. If the bottom line of reproduction is the survival of the gene, natural selection ought to favor characteristics that support the survival of the gene, regardless of whether the organism produces offspring. Survival of the gene can be ensured by aiding genetic relatives. Inclusive Fitness = Classical Fitness + (Effect of the Organism’s Action on the Fitness of The Hamilton Rule Genetic Relatives × Genetic Relatedness) Altruism is favored by natural selection when: Forms the foundation for understanding kin-altruism – the solution to the longstanding problem of how altruism could have evolved when it imposed cost onto self Benefits to genetic relatives must have been greater than the cost to self (The Hamilton Rule) rB >C r – proportion of shared genes B – fitness benefits in terms of how many offspring are produced C – fitness cost to self Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Group Selection Group selection is a now-disfavored proposal of a mechanism of evolution in which natural selection acts at the level of the group instead of at the level of the individual or gene. An organism may reduce reproduction effort to keep the population low, thus preventing the destruction of common food source Imply that only organisms with characteristics beneficial to the group survive; selfish organisms will perish with the group. Selection George C. Williams pointed out the problems with the concept of group selection: Altruistic organisms that sacrifice themselves for the benefit of the group are less likely to survive. Selfish organisms are more likely to survive and reproduce. Selections at the genetic level work against selection at the group level Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University Clarifying the concept of an Adaptation Adaptations are evolved solutions to specific problems that contribute directly or indirectly to successful reproduction. George C. Williams established the criteria for characteristics to be considered as an adaptation: Reliability – Does the mechanism regularly develop in most or all members of the species across all “normal” environments and perform dependably in the contexts in which it is designed to function Efficiency – Does the mechanism solve a particular adaptive problem well and effectively? Economy - Does the mechanism solve the adaptive problem without extorting huge costs from the organism? Adaptation is invoked to explain improbable usefulness – are the characteristics too precisely functional to arise from mere chance? Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  Robert Triver’s Three Seminal Theories (1971) (1972) (1974) Theory of Reciprocal Parental Investment Parent-Offsprings Altruism Theory Conflict Theory Defined the condition where Sex that invests more in its Resources invested in altruism – the act of helping offspring will be more offspring are resources not unrelated others while selective when choosing a available elsewhere (e.g., other incurring a cost to self – mate offspring). could have evolved. Less-investing sex will have Parents look to maximize Altruistic helping may be intra-sexual competition for fitness benefits from parental beneficial when there is access to mates resources invested, while potential for repayment for offspring look to maximize the altruistic act in the future. parental resources gained from parents. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  The Sociobiology Controversy In 1975, Edward O. Wilson published a highly controversial book, Sociobiology: The New Synthesis, which attempted to integrate various batches of evolutionary and biological science, Claimed the integrated principles can be applied to all organisms. Claimed that Sociobiology will “cannibalize psychology” Forgo many important psychological principles (e.g., learning, reasoning, culture) that form the foundation of psychology and focus mainly on behaviors Evidence being primarily from non-human sources Imply that humans possess mechanisms with the goal of maximizing their inclusive fitness, that is, maximizing their gene representation in subsequent generations. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  The Sociobiology Controversy Sociobiology is to evolutionary Sociobiology psychology, like behavioralism is to Ancestral Natural Selection Behaviors psychology. Environment Conflated the origin of human psychology with the Evolutionary Psychology nature of human psychology Ancestral Environment Sociobiologists skipped or neglected the "psychological level" of analysis. Natural Selection Current Psychological Many go directly from principles of evolution to end- Environment Mechanisms Behaviors product without specifying the psychological operation by which the end-product is generated. Operations of the evolved psychological mechanisms Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University “If men had as a goal the maximization of fitness, then why aren't they all lined up to give donations to sperm banks?” ― David Buss (1995) Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  02 Common Misconceptions about Evolutionary Psychology Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University “Human behavior is genetically determined.” 01 Genetic determinism is the view that genes determine phenotypes, such as morphology, psychology, or behavior, with little or no Genetic environmental influence. Environment influence is apparent at all stages of Determinism evolutionary processes: Environment as selective pressure Environment as developmental inputs Environment as triggers of psychological mechanisms. Evolutionary Psychology is an interactionist approach. Evolutionary Psychology rejects any claims of genetic determinism. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University “If human behaviors are evolved, it’s impossible to 02 change it.” Evolved characteristics and behaviors require triggers to activate (e.g., calluses). Some changes are easier than others. The extent to which change can happen depends on the extent to which plasticity is favored by natural Inflexiblity selection – adaptive plasticity. Understanding the operations of evolved psychological mechanisms and the environmental inputs allows us to introduce changes via interventions. Evolved characteristics are not necessarily unchanging, static, or permanent. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University “Adaptations that organisms possess today are 03 optimally designed over generations of selection.” Evolutionary or Adaptive Time Lag (i.e., Evolutionary Mismatch) Optimal Changes in the environment outpace the time required for adaptation. Results in adaptations being suboptimal in the Design modern environment E.g., Preference for sweet food and modern diabetes Cost of Adaptation All adaptations carry a cost in some forms Adaptations are only beneficial in so far that fitness benefits outweigh the cost E.g.., Fear and opportunity cost Adaptations are often far from optimal due to design constraints. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  03 Notes about Evolutionary Explanations Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  01 Tinbergen’s Four Question Proximate Analysis Explanations that address the Mechanism Competing Ontogeny immediate causes of a behavior or How is the mental process, as well as how it How did the developed during the individual’s characteristics characteristic structured? lifespan. develop in the Explanations organism? How does the characteristic e.g., Cognitive, Cultural, work? Developmental, and Social Psychology, etc. Does evidence for an adaptation render Level of Analysis socialization, developmental, and cultural Phylogeny Function Ultimate Analysis Explanations that address distant What purpose or explanation unimportant? How did this function did this historical origins of how and why characteristic the psychological structures are characteristic responsible for producing the evolve? serve? behavior or mental process. Not at all. E.g., Evolutionary Psychology Evolutionary explanations often complement Object of Analysis sociocultural and developmental theories rather than contradict them. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  02 “We evolved to be this way; hence, this is the right way to be and the best way to be.” Naturalistic Fallacy The belief that what is “natural” - how nature is - is therefore Naturalistic “good” and how things should be. e.g., "Warfare must be allowed because human violence is instinctive." and Moralistic Moralistic Fallacy The belief that what is “good” is, therefore, how nature is. The Fallacies belief is that if something is “bad,” it is not “how nature intended it.” e.g., “Warfare is destructive and tragic, and so it is not of human nature." How the world - how nature is – is a statement based on observation. Selection does not have any “intention.” Nature has an “is” but not a “should be.” Use the knowledge about how the world is and an evidence-based what and why to shape the world into the one you want it to be. Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University  Discussion Open Floor Discussion Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University NEXT WEEK: Core Concepts Additional Readings: Why I Am Not a Sociobiologist, pp. 9 – 10. In Buss, D. M. (1995). Evolutionary Psychology: A New Paradigm for Psychological Science. Psychological Inquiry, 6(1), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli0601_1 Edison Tan Evolutionary Psychology Singapore Management University