Evolution of Personality Flashcards
logic of ultimate
mechanisms and behaviours that re still prevalent must serve/served fitness-enhancing functions
continua of reactivity
no universal optimum so genetic variation maintained
continua of reactivity and personality
different personality offer alternative viable strategies
negative frequency-dependant selection
relative fitness of trait high as long as its rare within population
benefits of extraversion
better at gaining mates and have more social support
limitations of extravesion
more likely ill , involved in anti-social behaviour
limitation of neuroticism
psychiatric disorder, impaired physical health and relationship failure
benefits of neuroticism
avoid predators and dangers , competitiveness
benefits of openness
creativity to attract mates
limitation of openness
linked to schizotypy and schizophrenia, depression
more belief in delusion phenomena eg supernatural
benefits of conscientiousness
adopt healthy behaviour and avoid unhygienic risks
limitations of conscientiousness
pathological - ocd and eating disorders
missing spontaneous opportunities (for reproduction)
benefits of agreeableness
awareness of others mental states
cooperation
avoid violence
limitations of agreeableness
excessive attention and trust of others detrimental to fitness
lower status
authoritarianism
obeying high status leader from advantaged groups and punish marginalised groups who threaten unanimity of in-group values
Dual process motivational model
authoritarianism come from belied would is dangerous and unstable. Acquired through socialisation and early life experience and personality traits like low openness and high contentiousness
compared to social dominance orientation which view world where only those in power can succeed
worldview operate as focal heuristic that shape how people view and respond to environment
benefits of authoritarianism
in group cohesion
positive in group reputation
avoid danger
stronger disease avoidance
limitations of authoritarianism
exploitation from authorities
less innovation
social dominate orientation benifts
in group competitiveness when resources scares
stability in social hierarchy
reduced exploitation
social dominance orientation limitations
intergroup conflict
reputational damage
Tinbergen’s four questions
proximate- causations (what) and ontogeny (How)
Ultimate- phylogeny (when) and functional (why)
Winnowing processes
less successful variants if genes result in people who have fewer descendants
selective neutrality
heritable variation having no functional consequences
fitness relevant effects of personality studies
Jokela - Finnish high sociability and low emotionality increased children
US high extraversion, openness and low neuroticism associated with increased children
Alvergne et al- women higher in N and men higher in E have more children in Senegal (less access to contraception)
Personality and health and longevity
Masui et al - Japanese centurions have high O and high C +E in women
Mutation-selection balance
Occur to quickly for selection to remove them. Polygenetic traits require more variation before selection removes
x- not frequent enough mutations of personality
Overdominance
Heterozygotes have a reproductive advantage over homozygous individuals
x- personality more polygenetic
Frequency-dependant selection
polymorphisms associated with different traits. traits fluctuate around equilibrium.
need balance for each variation of trait to have benefits
e.g. psychopaths
environmental heterogeneity
selection pressures fluctuate as environments changes as it is not stable
Main explanation for variation in human personality
environmental heterogeneity
