Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Evolutionary Psychology (What is Evolution? (Products of Evolution…
Evolutionary Psychology
What is Evolution?
-
What is Evolution?
Descent with modification = a lineage of organisms characterised by heredity similarity between parents & offspring
Modification: Changes across generations in the distribution of characteristics or traits in a lineage
Evolution = the change in the frequencies of the heredity characteristics across generations in a lineage
What Causes Evolution?
Natural Selection = With a species there is heritable variability of phenotypes - caused by mutations or recombination during sexual reproduction
Some variations --> more offspring (differential success) - offspring possess the beneficial differences
-
e.g. birds - inherit harder beaks - survive & pass on beneficial genetics (softer beaks selected out) - both predictors & prey adapt
-
Products of Evolution
Adaptations: Inherited characteristics that emerged through natural selection because they aided in solving problems related to survival &/or reproduction e.g. umbilical cord
By-products: Characteristics that do not solve adaptive problems & do not have a functional design. They are coupled to adaptations e.g. belly button
Noise: Random effects produced by chance mutations that do not affect survival &/or reproductive success
-
-
Evolutionary Psychology
-
An Initial Overview
-
-
Mind is composed of many innate, specialised modules 'designed' by natural selection - modules emerged through NS to solve pre-historical adaptive problems
Different systems for different problems - 10,000 years ago
-
Core Tenets
-
-
-
If innate mechanisms are not from aliens or God, they must be from evolutionary processes --> all psychologists use evolution in their work
-
-
EEA
Characteristics
Consisted of:
- Hunter/gatherers
- Nomadic/ semi-nomadic
- Low pop. density
- Simple technology
- Vulnerability
Problems faced with EEA
Our minds were designed by natural & sexual selection to solve adaptive problems faced by our hunter-gatherer ancestors
- Surviving/avoiding predators
- Food selection
- Attracting mates
- Alliances
- Parenting
-
-
-
Human Mating Behaviour
EP of HMB
-
Problems differ according to:
1. Temporal context (short or long term)
2. Sex (male or female) --> based on heterosexual behaviour
Sexual Selection
-
- Success at interpersonal attraction
- Success at intrapersonal competition
-
-
Criticisms
-
Buss - Low SES were under-represented --> Low SES females rated them as more desirable as it is the status they'd like to be
-