Evolutionary influences

Question 1

What is evolution?

Answer 1

The change of physical and behavioural characteristics overtime to adapt to the demands of individual environments. The theory of evolution is an explanation of how this happened - through the process of natural selection

Question 2

Whats natural selection?

Answer 2

Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual’s chance of survival and reproduction will be passed on to the next generation. Natural selection takes part at the level of the genes.

Question 3

What are adaptive behaviours?

Answer 3

Snake and spiders are poisonous and can kill with one bite

People who are predispositioned to avoid these animals are less likely to get bitten and die.

They will therefore survive longer and be more likely to reproduce, passing these genes onto their offspring

Question 4

Example in psychology?

Answer 4

Biological preparedness

Certain fears are adaptive behaviours that helped our ancestors to survive
Seligman proposed the concept of biological preparedness, an inherited disposition to fear certain types of animals, such as snakes. This is an example of evolution for survival purposes.