Chapter 3 : Combating the hostile forces of nature part 2 Flashcards
the embryo protection hypothesis
adaptation to prevent ingestion of teratogens
toxins that are harmful to a developing baby
aspects of embryo protection hypothesis
specific timing
sickness=fewer miscarriages
vomit> nausea
specific foods
cross-cultural evidence
our first line of defense : Behavioral Immune System
detects presence of pathogens in environment
causes disgust
initiates avoidance behaviors
disease avoidance hypothesis
disgust serves as a defense against microbial attack, protecting people from the risk of disease
aspects of disease avoidance hypothesis
gender differences
universal input and output
disgust inducing immune response
disgust inducing behavioral response
greater disgust= better health
3 specialized learning mechanisms modify the disgust response
-the Garcia Effect: illness following ingestion of food leads to an aversion
-evaluative conditioning: quickly learning disgust-related associations
-The law of contagion: other objects that touch a disgusting object become disgusting themselves
Universal list of disgusting items/situation reveals many that are dangerous
-bodily fluids
-stagnant water
-feces
-certain animals
-rotting items
mechanism we have to combat disease
fever -natural defense against disease
iron poor blood - iron is food for bacteria, when humans become ill, the body produces chemicals to reduce iron levels in the blood
man the hunter
hunting potentially responsible for evolution of human intelligence, language, tool making, etc
evidence for “man the hunter “
humans consume far more meat than any other primate
digestive system
fossil record of teeth, as well as animals with took marks in bones
the provisioning hypothesis
human males are unique among primates in parental investment in children
strong male coalitions
the show off hypothesis
men hunt not to provide for own family, but to gain status benefits of sharing their bounty with neighbors
“women the gatherer “
gathering of plant based items served as a more consistent source of food than meat from hunting
hunter gatherer hypothesis of spatial abilities
men should show superior ability in spatial tasks that supported hunting
women should show superior ability in spatial tasks that supported gathering
The Savanna hypothesis
explains why humans live where they live at
selection has favored preferences, motivations, and decision rules to explore and settle in environments abundant with resources needed to sustain life, while avoiding environments lacking resources and posing risks to survival
