2. Introduction to Evolutionary Psychology

Question 1

What is evolutionary psychology?

Answer 1

relatively new branch of psychology that applies theories and principles of evolution (e.g., Darwin’s natural selection, sexual selection) towards understanding the human mind

Question 2

What does evolutionary psychology argue?

Answer 2

the human mind is influenced by pressure to survive and reproduce and therefore, we can enhance our understanding of psychological processes by studying the evolutionary forces that shape it (Workman & Reader, 2014)

Question 3

evolutionary psychology conceptualises helpful psychological traits such as

Answer 3

memory, intelligence, perception or language as adaptive traits that have evolved through natural selection

Question 4

evolutionary psychology argues that human beings have two broad types of traits or behaviours. What are they?

Answer 4

1. traits that help aid our physical survival
2. traits that help us to reproduce

Question 5

Traits that enhance our chances of physical survival can be explained by

Answer 5

natural selection

Question 6

traits that aid our reproductive success can be explained by

Answer 6

sexual selection

Question 7

According to Darwin, biological evolution of species occurs due

Answer 7

natural selection

Question 8

selection argues that some people are

Answer 8

more likely to survive and reproduce than others

Question 9

Over time, those who are not ‘fit for survival’ will fail to

Answer 9

reproduce and the traits that inhibit their capacity to survive will die out.

Question 10

sexual selection theory is

Answer 10

the evolution of traits or characteristics that indirectly help our survival because they help to attract a mate and reproduce

Question 11

Sexual selection theory maintains that competition between those of the same sex for a partner of the opposite sex influences

Answer 11

the evolution of traits

Question 12

The two processes fundamental to sexual selection are

Answer 12

1. intrasexual competition
2. intersexual selection

Question 13

intrasexual competition involves

Answer 13

males competing for the attention of other females and is said to account for males developing traits that help them compete with other men (e.g., aggression, greater musculature

Question 14

intersexual selection involves

Answer 14

members of one sex attempt to impress members of the other sex. In this process, traits that are considered attractive to the opposite sex (e.g., signs of good fertility and health, intelligence) are passed on to future generations simply because those who possess them are more likely to attract a mate and reproduce

Question 15

criticisms/challenges of evolutionary psychology include

Answer 15

Deterministic

Politically incorrect or insensitive

Outdated

Testability

Question 16

Deterministic

Answer 16

Some critics of evolutionary psychology have argued that it advocates genetic determinism - that is, that our actions, thoughts, and behaviour are all determined by our genes and thus cannot be changed or influenced by external forces such as our education, culture, experiences

Question 17

Politically incorrect or insensitive

Answer 17

Although evolutionary psychology does examine the positive or pro-social side of human behaviour (e.g., altruism, conflict resolution), a lot of the mainstream media attention that evolutionary psychology has received has been on its attempts to understand some of the darker aspects of human behaviour

Question 18

Outdated?

Answer 18

Considering the substantial socio-political changes that have occurred around the world in recent years, some have questioned how evolutionary psychology is compatible with modern-day society. For instance, if our behaviour really is motivated by a desire to reproduce, how can evolutionary psychology account for the increasing number of people who are choosing to remain childless

Question 19

Testability

Answer 19

Another key criticism of evolutionary psychology is that creating testable hypotheses can be problematic, if not impossible (Confer et al., 2010). Without testable hypotheses, empirical data cannot be generated, therefore bringing into question whether evolutionary psychology can be regarded as a scientific discipline