Aug 29 Flashcards
our most intense emotional experiences tend to be centered on…
INTERPERSONAL/INTERDEPENDENT (relationship-focused) rather than INDEPENDENT (self-focused) events
emotional life events negative and positive event listings
~3.59/5 participants listed the most negative and positive emotional events in their lives as interdependent
general finding holds across:
- different AGE groups
- TIME periods (ie. month vs lifetime) - true of both MEN and WOMEN
interdependent events also rated as…
having stronger, longer-lasting emotional impact
even seemingly self-oriented, independent events (eg. achievement-oriented stresses or successes)…
may not be truly “independent”
failures and successes are shaped by those closest to you
reason why interdependent events affect us so strongly
fundamental need to belong
human beings have a fundamental need to form and maintain at least a MINIMUM QUANTITY of lasting, positive, and significant interpersonal relationships
what does a fundamental need mean?
not a want or a preference, it’s fundamental
essential, indispensable, integral, intrinsic
something that would have to come “programmed” in
what do “fundamental needs” suggest?
an evolutionary perspective
these needs are not learned
natural selection
process through which certain traits become more or less common in a population over time
combo of 3 components
natural selection is a combination of 3 components
- variation
- heredity
- differential fitness
variation
one of the 3 components of natural selection
within a population of organisms, there’s variation in traits or characteristics
hereditary
one of the 3 components of natural selection
some of this variation is passed down from parents to offspring
we now know this happens through GENETIC INHERITANCE
differential fitness
one of the 3 components of natural selection
not all individuals in a population survive and reproduce equally
ADAPTATIONS: favourable traits better suited to the environment that increase chances of survival & reproduction
these favourable traits gradually accumulate over generations
but natural selection isn’t the whole story…
INCLUSIVE FITNESS
inclusive fitness: success in passing on one’s genes to the next generation
inclusive fitness
comprises…
- individual survival and reproduction
- impact on the survival & reproduction of genetic relatives
selection happens at the level of…
the GENE
not the individual
what does inclusive fitness help to explain
actions like helping
according to natural selection, why would you help others at the expense of your own energy/resources?
because inclusive fitness includes actions’ impact on the SURVIVAL and REPRODUCTION OF GENETIC RELATIVES
can desire for social connection be considered an adaptation?
yes
humans aren’t impressive, physically speaking
throughout evolutionary history, GROUP LIVING served as MULTI-PURPOSE SURVIVAL TOOL
- help hunting large game & foraging
- sharing food
- defensive vigilance & greater strength against predators/hostile outgroups
- help caring for offspring
- access to mates
environment of evolutionary adaptedness
ancestral environment to which a species is adapted
babies & the Shanidar I skeleton of Homo neanderthalensis…
are two testaments to the life-sustaining benefits of belonging
Shanidar was a guy with horrific head injuries (blind, crippled)
but he survived long time despite this (into his 40s)
his group must’ve taken care of him
Baumeister & Leary 1995
those more MOTIVATED to BELOND would be more likely to SURVIVE
this passes on those BELONGING-INCLINED GENES
supporting evidence of the adaptive nature of group living
evidence of UNIVERSALITY
cross-cultural and cross-species
cross cultural evidence of universality
cross cultural universality supports adaptive nature of group living
- people in EVERY SOCIETY on earth naturally GRAVITATE towards SMALL PRIMARY GROUPS
- people become ATTACHED to even MEANINGLESS groups (Tajfel’s minimal group paradigm)
- people around world experience PROFOUND DISTRESS when their relationships are THREATENED or LOST
cross species evidence of universality
research on baboon BFFs
- female baboons with stronger & more stable social bonds LIVE LONGER
- also have better chances of their OFFSPRING SURVIVING
time spent grooming = dependent variable
grooming = social bonding
stable social bonds = longer lives & offspring more likely to survive
universality: one perspective on emotion argues… but…
argues that we SHARE THE SAME BASIC EMOTIONAL BRAIN CIRCUITRY with OTHER ANIMALS
but subject to MYRIAD OF COGNITIVE ELABORATIONS unique to humans
