Evolutionary Explanations for Behavior PDF

Evolutionary Explanations for Behavior Darwin’s theory of evolution explains how species develop traits that help them survive in changing environments. Evolutionary psychology suggests that certain human feelings and behaviors have evolved over time; those that are advantageous are passed down thr...

Evolutionary Explanations for Behavior Darwin’s theory of evolution explains how species develop traits that help them survive in changing environments. Evolutionary psychology suggests that certain human feelings and behaviors have evolved over time; those that are advantageous are passed down through a process of natural selection. Evolutionary psychology therefore focuses on identifying psychological traits or behaviors that have developed as adaptations to help humans survive. Some examples of such behaviors include mate selection, disgust, jealousy, cooperation, etc. Evolutionary Explanations for Mate Selection: To demonstrate the typical reasoning of evolutionary psychologists, we will look at one specific example: mate selection. An important adaptive problem for both sexes is the selection of a suitable mate. Certain characteristics lead to lower/higher reproductive success. From an evolutionary perspective men and women are seeking the same thing: the greatest possible likelihood of mating with someone with whom they will have healthy offspring. However, males and females face different adaptive problems in mate selection: -​ Women look for partners who will invest time and resources in raising their children. They prioritize traits that indicate economic security and high status. -​ Men tend to seek fertile women. They are attracted to cues that suggest a woman is capable of having healthy children, such as youth and beauty. A man’s reproductive potential can often be assessed by his social and economic status. However, a woman’s reproductive value is less visible, as it is hidden within her body. Since women’s signs of fertility are not always clear, men now and historically have focused on indirect signs, like physical attractiveness, to gauge a woman’s reproductive potential. This is, in part, an adaptive behavior. Research has shown that waist-hip-ratio (WHR) is a strong indicator of women’s physical attractiveness. A woman’s WHR could be one cue to a man about a woman’s reproductive value. It has been suggested that men find a specific “waist to hip ratio” attractive in women. A WHR of 0.7 (where the waist is 70% the width of the hips) suggests that a woman is more fertile and capable of having children. In a study by Singh (1993), university males were asked to look at 12 line drawings of women with different body weights and WHRs. They were asked to rank the drawings based on attractiveness as well as other traits like health, youthful looking and reproductive capability. The results showed: ​ Men found the normal-weight figure with a 0.7 WHR to be the most attractive, youthful, healthy and capable of having children. ​ The underweight figure with a 0.7 WHR was rated as being the most youthful but less attractive and reproductively capable. ​ The overweight figure with a 0.7 WHR was viewed as unattractive but more suitable for motherhood. Women with a 0.7 WHR have optimal levels of estrogen and are less likely to suffer from major health issues like heart disease, ovarian cancer and diabetes. The study also found that attractiveness and health are closely linked—figures judged as very attractive were also judged as very healthy. This research shows that body fat distribution, as indicated by the waist-hip ratio, serves as a marker for female attractiveness, reproductive status, and health. This supports the idea that the connection between physical appearance and attraction is not just a learned behavior but is rooted in evolution, giving individuals a better chance for survival and reproduction.