CHAPTER NINE Flashcards
Eugenics
controversy #1: the belief that humanity could and should be improved through slective breeding
Cloning
controversy #2: the belief that it might be technologically possible to produce a complete duplicate, psychological and physical human being
Heritability coefficients from twin studies ≈
.40
Allele
one of two or more alterntive forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome
Short allele + stress may lead to depression
Reactive perosn envirnment transaction
The same enviornments that promtte good outcomes for some can permote bad outcomes for others
Genes matter?
Not all of personality coems from experience, some come form genes
Heritability coefficients from non-twin studies
.20
Epigenetics
experience affecst biology, may be possible to help people find enviornments that will lead to good outcomes
Alturism
can lead to protection of other people, especially close relatives and ensure surival of genes in succeeding genrations. Your genes may make it into the next genration evn if you dont produce offspring
Agression
Agression can help a person protect territory,property and mates, lead to higher status, higher soicla group by can also leas to fighting
Evoluntionary Mismatch
The modern enviornment is a mismatch with human history. Evolution is not the same as progress and just bc a tendency is “natural” does not mean it can’t be harmful. Some of our most natural tendencies might be our most dangerous
Evoluntionary theory
is the foundation of modern biology
Adresses how patterns of behaviour that characterize all humans may hve originated in the survival value of these chrcateistcs
Self Esteem
signs that we arent valued casuses slef esteem to go doen. people cn fila to survive and reproduce
Depression
has evovled bc of itss surviavl value. individuals who lack capcity for dpressive symtoms might be more likey to lose valuable relationships, learn less from mistakes, less able to makes friends
Methodology –
Biological determinism or social structure – related to the idea that people evolved to be flexible. The result of evolutionary history might be the result of humans responding to changing circumstances, especially social structure. Women are starting to challenge traditional sex roles and may counteract biology as well
How can evolutionary speculations be tested? What sort of experiment can we do to prove or disprove the sociometer theory of self-esteem? How could we test an evolutionary hypothesis?
5 STRESS TESTS FOR EVOLUTIONARY BEHAVIOUR
Assesses the degree to which evolutionary approach to behavior can stand up to challenge
Methodology
Reproductive Instinct
Conservative bias –
Human flexibility
Biological determinism or social structure –
Reproductive Instinct
Evolutionary psychology’s assumption that everyone is trying to reproduce is a challenge because some try to limit reproduction. People have tendencies toward sexual behaviors because of the effects of similar sexual behaviors on past generations reproductive outcomes – not because of any current intention to propagate
Accounting for Individual Differences
Behavioral patterns evolved as reactions to particular environmental experiences.
Several possible behavioral strategies evolved.
Some behaviors may be frequency dependent.
Human nature is flexible.
Life history
an idea that animals gnerall exhibit one of two diff approaches to reproduction
- Aminals reproduce multiple times at young age but does not devote many or any resorecs to protect offring
2.Animal does not reproduce until relatively late in life, has fewer offspring but invest more in each one
Adaptation
Diversity makes adaptation to changing conditions possible. A trat adaptive in one situation might be harmful in another.
One criticism of evolutionary personality theory is that it
attempts to explain only a narrow range of behavioral patterns.
is too easy to find evidence against the theory.
places too much emphasis on how social structure influences behavior.
does not explain how people living now decide to behave.
does not explain how people living now decide to behave.
According to evolutionary personality psychology,
one way to explain personality and behavior is to look at how behaviors might have been adaptive for our ancestors.
personality is entirely determined by genetics.
everyone should have the same personality, and those who differ are maladaptive.
evolutionary theory can only be used to explain a few human behaviors.
one way to explain personality and behavior is to look at how behaviors might have been adaptive for our ancestors.
Genes affect behavior
directly, by being able to control certain behaviors.
because genes and behavior have a one-to-one correspondence.
by influencing the propensities or tendencies toward certain behaviors.
much more than does the environment.
by influencing the propensities or tendencies toward certain behaviors.
Conservative bias –
That evolutionary behavior embodies conservative bias. It assumes that humans’ current behavioural tendencies evolved as a result of the species’ past environments and these tendencies are biologically rooted, the evolutionary approach implies the current behavioral order was not only inevitable but unchangeable and appropriate
Human flexibility –
the challenge that evolutionary accounts seem to describe specific behaviors are programmed into the brain but psychology proves humans are extraordinary, flexible creatures with a minimum of instinctive behavior patterns compared with other species
Biological determinism or social structure –
related to the idea that people evolved to be flexible. The result of evolutionary history might be the result of humans responding to changing circumstances, especially social structure. Women are starting to challenge traditional sex roles and may counteract biology as well
The biological aspects of perosnality that you inherited form your parents may determine …
your psychlogical starting point but not your destiny
Evolutionary processes maintain individuals differences in 3 ways
A trait that is adaptive in one situation may be harmful in another
behavioural patterns have evolved to emerge as functions of enviromental experiences
some biologically influenced behaviors ar “frequency dependent” meaning that their emergence adjsut according to how common they are in the population at large
