evolution and behavior Flashcards
what is natural selection?
as species are changing, mutations get introduced that can create changes in behavior and characteristics
what is evolution ?
change over time in frequency which genes and characteristics they produce
what do mutations do?
introduce new genetic variation
what are adaptations?
changes that promote survival or reproduction
when favorable adaptations become more frequent in the population, and continue down the evolutionary line, this is called?
natural selection
what is the natural selection filter analogy?
certain genes that are adaptive are let through
do mutations work in conjunction with other mutations?
yes!!
what is evolutionary noise?
neutral changes that may become more relevant as the environment continues to change
what are domain-specific adaptations?
very specific adaptations that solve particular problems
what are broad adaptations?
general, multi-purpose and versatile
what is evolutionary psychology?
how behavior and tendencies have evolved in response to environmental demands
what is the five factor model of personality?
all things that make up our genotype differences can be categorized into five groups
what are the five factor groups of personality?
Openess (honesty)
Conscientiousness (how aware you are)
Extraversion (how outgoing you are)
Agreeableness (how likely you are to agree or argue)
Neuroticism (anxiety and fear)
(ocean)
what is the evolutionary personality theory?
that genetic contribution implies an evolutionary role in shaping personality
is there always natural variaion?
yes!
what is one of the key principles to evolutionary history?
there is no one-size-fits-all solution! different traits are adaptive in different environments
what is cooperation?
one individual helps another and each gains some advantage
what is altruism?
one individual helps another for no apparent benefit (costs involved)
what is kin selection theory?
helping one’s relative even if there is no immediate benefit to us
what is reciprocal altruism theory?
a general helping that is not based on genetic awareness
it is observed that people are more willing to help _____ __________ in which we have ___________ _______________ in common
close relatives; genetic material
what is the cost/benefit trade off?
there are both drawbacks and advantages, but do the advantages outweigh the drawbacks?
what do dominance hierarchies do?
some initial aggression to establish a hierarchy prevents conflict, as the hierarchy provides clear rules for who gets access to what resources?
assuming that every aspect of behavior can be explained by evolution is?
a common error!
what is genetic determinism?
the idea that genes have invariant and unavoidable effects (we cannot hold them accountable to their actions because it is in their genes)
what is social darwinism?
the idea that societies which are most prosperous are genetically superior
