15. Buss (Evolutionary Theory of Personality)

Question 1

Three Outcomes of Evolutionary Process

Answer 1

(i) Adaptations

(ii) By-Products

(iii) Noise

Question 2

Adaptations

Answer 2

evolved strategies that solve survival and/or reproductive problems and have genetic basis (e.g. sweat glands, taste preferences, sexual attraction, intelligence, creativity)

Question 3

By-Products

Answer 3

traits that happen as a result of adaptation but are not a part of functional design (e.g. driving)

Question 4

Noise

Answer 4

evolution’s random design changes that do not affect function (e.g. belly button)

Question 5

Paradox of Evolutionary Psychology

Answer 5

natural selection should mean that traits are universal and species-typical, and yet there are individual differences in personality

Question 6

Fundamental situation error

Answer 6

tendency to assume that environment alone can produce behaviour void of a stable internal mechanism

Question 7

Fundamental attribution error

Answer 7

tendency to overfocus on internal dispositions and ignore environmental forces in explaining behaviour of other people

Question 8

Basic Assumption

Answer 8

adaptive qualities include consistent and unique dispositions to behave in particular ways in particular contexts

Question 9

Two fundamental problems of adaptation

Answer 9

survival and reproduction

Question 10

Mechanisms

Answer 10

Solutions to the two fundamental problems of adaptation

Each mechanism works specifically on one problem

Question 11

Physical Mechanisms

Answer 11

e.g. sweat glands solve problem of regulating body temperature

Question 12

Psychological Mechanisms

Answer 12

Internal and specific cognitive, motivational and personality systems that solve problems

Question 13

Categories of Psychological Mechanisms (3)

Answer 13

(i) Goals/drives/motives

(ii) Emotions

(iii) Personality traits

Question 14

Buss’ Big Five

Answer 14

Surgency/extraversion/dominance,

Agreeableness,

Conscientiousness,

Emotional stability, and

Openness/Intellect

Question 15

Individual differences in personality due to

Answer 15

Different strategies for solving adaptive problems –> which is adaptive since environment changes in unpredictable ways

Question 16

Surgency / Extraversion / Dominance

Answer 16

Disposition to experience positive emotional states, engage in one’s environment, be social and self-confident

Question 17

Origins of Individual Differences (4)

Answer 17

(i) Environmental sources

(ii) Genetic sources

(iii) Nonadaptive sources

(iv) Maladaptive sources (e.g. genetic defects or environmental trauma)

Question 18

Early experiential calibration

Answer 18

childhood experiences make some behavioural strategies more likely than others (e.g. no father, more likely to be promiscuous; attachment style)

Question 19

Alternative niche specialization

Answer 19

behaviours that make a person stand out from others to gain attention from parents or potential mates (e.g. birth order differences)

Question 20

Neo-Bussian Evolutionary Theories of Personality

Answer 20

Individual differences in personality are adaptive –> species produces varied individuals to effectively respond to changing environment

Question 21

Common Misunderstandings in Evolutionary Theory (3)

Answer 21

(i) Evolution implies genetic determinism

(ii) Executing adaptations requires conscious mechanisms

(iii) Mechanisms are optimally designed