Evolutionary Social Psychology Flashcards
What is Darwin’s theory of hereditary traits?
Characteristics are passed on from one generation to the next
What is variability and survival of the fittest?
> Characteristics vary across species; some species are more successful than others due to the selective process
Only individuals who compete successfully pass on their genes
What are adaptions?
They are inherited characteristics that
> solve survival and reproductive problems
> eg. umbilical chord
What are by-products?
They are inherited characteristics that
> DON’T solve survival and reproductive problems,
but they are coupled with adaptions
> eg. belly button
What are exaptions and noise
Exaptions:
> They are inherited characteristics that didn’t originate for their current use,
> but rather they were co-opted
> eg. bird feathers originally for warmth, then co-opted for flight
Noise:
> They are inherited characteristics that are random effects as a result of genetic drift;
> they don’t solve survival or reproductive problems
How does evolutionary psychology challenge the ‘blank slate’ (Standard Social Science) model?
Standard Social Science Model:
> At birth our mind is a ‘blank slate’
> Knowledge of the world and the way in which we think is acquired from our culture
> Biology plays a LIMITED role in the nature of our minds
Evolutionary Psychology:
> Biological makeup has a major influence over the way we think
> an array of specialised cognitive processes - like the blades of a swiss army knife
> at birth, we already have a substantial amount of knowledge about the world
What is the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness?
> The environment in which we evolved
It is not a short period in time, but instead refers to an array of factors that have influenced our fitness over the last 200,000 years
What are the basic claims of evolutionary psychology?
> our brains consist of neural circuits developed by natural selection to solve problems
Our minds are an adaption
adaptions evolve to meet challenges in the env.
most of what goes into our mind is subconscious
Different neural circuits are specialised for solving different adaptive problems
What are the 4 problems faced by Ancestral Humans?
1) Problems of survival - getting to point of reproduction
2) Problems of mating - selecting, attracting and retaining a mate long enough to reproduce
3) Problems of parenting - helping offspring to survive and ensure they are capable of reproducing
4) Problems of aiding genetic relatives - task relevant to assisting next-relevant of kin
Remember as MAPS: M-ating A-iding genetic relatives P-arenting S-urvival
What are some survival examples?
Food selection:
> must avoid poisoning ourselves
> plants have developed toxins
> we have evolved taste preference to avoid these poisons
Morning sickness:
> 75 - 89% of women report morning sickness
> Adaption to avoid consuming tetrogens during the critical period of the fetus
> Evidence: most nauseating are foods high in toxins; morning sickness occurs at same time that fetus is most vulnerable to toxins
How does the body adapt to parasites and infectious diseases?
> Parasites and infectious diseases create SELECTION PRESSURE
Therefore, we have evolved defense mechanisms to identify parasites etc.
Disgust at facial blemishes as they represent infectious disease etc
Originally didn’t have Germ Theory (no understanding), therefore relied on social norms to avoid illness, rather than medical knowledge
What is the effect of infectious disease on conformity?
When we are vulnerable to infectious diseases, we appreciate and align ourselves with conformity.
What is the conclusion of the evolution model (when arguing against the SSSM)?
Conclusion:
> challenged the SSSM by saying that we come already equipped with the mechanisms to deal with the environment, but
> this environment may more reflect the historical environment, rather than the current day environment.
What is the evidence for conformity being of greater importance once there is a disease threat? (Murray et al, 2012)
How?
IV: Recall task - 3 groups: vulnerable to disease, vulnerable to physical dangers, non-threatening event
DV: Conformity evaluation
> Self reports
> Behavioural: allocation of penny to the majority jar or minority jar
Results:
> Sig. effect on increasing conformity self measures
> Disease group conformed in the behavioural task sig more than control, but non-sig more than physical
Conclusion:
> Even a danger threat can cause us to align/conform
What are the four signals increasing mating value?
1) Conspicuous waste
2) Conspicuous precision - symmetry of face etc
3) Conspicuous creativity
4) Conspicuous reputation
