Evolutionary Psychology Flashcards
What is equipotentiality
Any part of a healthy brain can perform the functions of any other damaged part: make up the slack
Tenets of evolution and evolutionary psychology
-communities and individuals change with time
-Species adapt to their niche, if niche changes existence is threatened
-Natural selection dictates that traits contributing to survival/reproduction will be passed on
-Natural selection favors variation, resulting in competition
-Reproduction success is key, not “survival of the fittest”
What is evolutionary psychology?
The study of the evolution of behavior using the principles of natural selection
What factors effect female mating preference?
-periodic ovulation
-long gestational periods
-risk of pregnancy
-nursing and early care
-asymmetrical parental investment
Male factors in partener preference
-Fertility, good health, youthfulness
-Variety: evolutionary advantage
What is altruism
Behavior of an animal that benefits another at its own expense
How can altruism be explained via evolutionary psychology
Inclusive fitness:
-An organisms genes are preserved through offspring of genetic relatives
Kinship selection theory:
-Tendency of organisms to help others according to their genetic relatedness
Reciprocal altruism:
-The tendency to help members of your species who may later reciprocate
What are some critiques of evolutionary psychology?
Evolution is very limited in what it can tell us about human behavior:
-Humans are far removed from the circumstances we evolved in
-Humans are not animals
-What about all the evidence for nurture?
What is the field of epigenetics?
Changes in the expression of our genes without any changes in the underlying DNA
What are humans good at?
-Executive functioning
-Inhibitory control
-Working memory
-Language
-Social learning
-Understanding intentionality
Why are humans’ brains so big?
-Moving into new environments
-Long gestational periods
-Complex Societies
