Chap 8: Evolutionary Perspectives on Personality

Question 1

Evolution and natural selection

Answer 1

• all humans today come from an unbroken line of ancestors who accomplished two tasks:
  1. survived to reproductive age
  2. reproduced
• before Darwin, two features of evolution were recognized:
  1. change over time
  2. apparent adaption to environment

Question 2

Natural Selection def.

Answer 2

adaptation are created and changes take over time

Question 3

Adaptations def.

Answer 3

inherited solutions to survival and reproduction problems posed by nature

Question 4

Sexual Selection def.

Answer 4

traits evolved because they contributed to an individuals mating success

Question 5

Two forms of sexual selection

Answer 5

1. Intrasexual competition: member of the same sex compete for members of the opposite sex
2. intersexual competition: members of one sex choose mate based on their preferences for particular qualities in that mate

Question 6

Gene def.

Answer 6

packet of DNA inherited by children from parents

Question 7

Genes and Inclusive Fitness

Answer 7

-natural selection and sexual selection are different forms of the same process

Question 8

Differential gene reproduction def.

Answer 8

-reproductive success relative to others

Question 9

Inclusive fitness equation

Answer 9

of offspring + (genetic relatives)x(relatedness)

Question 10

Three products of the evolutionary process

Answer 10

1. Adaptations
2. Byproducts of adaptations
3. Noise or Random variation

Question 11

Adaptations

Answer 11

• the primary products of selection

- problem: anything that impedes survival or reproduction

Question 12

Byproduct of Adaptations

Answer 12

-incidental effects of adaptations not properly considered to be adaptations

Question 13

Noise or random variation

Answer 13

-neutral with respect to selection

Question 14

Three premises of evolutionary psychology

Answer 14

1. domain-specificity
2. numerousness
3. functionality

Question 15

Two modes of conducting empirical research

Answer 15

1. deductive reasoning approach: “top down” theory driven approach
2. inductive reasoning approach: “bottom up” data driven approach

Question 16

Human Nature def.

Answer 16

• psychological mechanisms that are successful in helping humans survive and reproduce out-replicate those that are less successful
• byproduct of evolutionary process

Question 17

Three evolutionary perspectives on individual differences

Answer 17

1. Environmental triggers of individual differences
2. Adaptive self-assessment of heritable individual differences
3. Frequency-dependent strategic individual differences

Question 18

Four examples of differences between men and women that are attributed to recurrently racing different adaptive problems

Answer 18

1. sex differences in aggression
2. sex differences in jealousy
3. sex differences in desire for sexual variety
4. sex differences in mate preference