Evolutionary Psychology

Question 1

What is Natural Selection?

Answer 1

occurs when there’s a change in the frequency of a genotype across generations because those with that genotype are more/less likely to produce viable offspring.

Question 2

What is the forward method in evolutionary psychology?

Answer 2

1. Identify our needs in the Pleistocene Era
2. Identify which psychological traits would fulfil those needs
3. Look for those traits in contemporary people
4. Conclude that the traits were selected to fulfill those needs

Question 3

What is the backward method in Evolutionaries psychology?

Answer 3

1. Identify a trait in contemporary people
2. Identify a need in the Pleistocene Era that trait would have
   been fulfilled by that trait
3. Conclude that the trait was selected to fulfill that need

Question 4

What are the differences between genotypes and traits?

Answer 4

Genotypes explain

2. Genotypes do not always give rise to the same trait
3. Genotypes do not always give rise to traits
4. One genotype can give rise to many traits
5. Many genotypes can contribute to one trait
6. Many combinations of genotypes can give rise to the same trait

Question 5

What are some things natural selection depends on?

Answer 5

Many traits are not the result of natural selction
Some traits might be selected for even though they are disadvantageous because the underlying genotype gives rise to another advantageous trait
Some traits might be originally selected for one reason but then maintained for another reason.