Assumptions Flashcards
What do evolutionary psychologists aim to explain?
Human emotions, thoughts, and responses based on Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.
What is natural selection?
The process where individuals best adapted to their environment survive and reproduce, passing on beneficial genes
What does ‘survival of the fittest’ mean?
Those with traits best sutured for survival and reproduction are more likely to pass on their genes
What do evolutionary psychologists aim to evolve
Behavioural traits, brain functions and psychological characteristics
What is the EEA
Conditions that shaped human adaptations including physical, social and reproductive pressures
According to trivers how do females select males
They look for males with resources such as shelter and high earning ability due to parental investment
How do males select mates
They look for young, fertile women because they can reproduce with minimal investment
What is meant by localisation of brain function
Different areas of the brain are responsible for different functions
What does the frontal lobe control
Personalities and creativity
What do the parietal lobes do
Process sensory information such as touch and temperature
What do the temporal lobes control
Memory and speech
What do the occipital lobes handle
Visual processing from the eyes
What is brocas area responsible for
Speech production
What are the three roles of neuron’s
- Receive info
- Decide to pass it on
- Send it to muscles, glands or organs
What are neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that carry signals across the synapse between neurons
How to neurotransmitters work
They convert electrical signals to chemical to cross the synapse then back to electrical in the next neuron
What is the role of dopamine
Controls movement and emotions
What does serotonin fo
Affects emotions, sleep, eating and digestion
