Exam 1 Lecture 3 Flashcards
non-functional behavior
Behavior that does not seem to affect reproductive success
but does not harm it significantly.
functional behavior
Actions that support survival and reproduction, ultimately
ensuring the passing of genes to the next generation.
dysfunctional behavior
Behaviors that hinder an organism’s ability to survive or
reproduce, often due to neurophysiological damage or maladaptive evolutionary traits.
what can cause dysfunctional behavior?
When the nervous system is damaged or atypical for the species, damage to a neurophysiological pathology can lead to behavior that is not adaptive or suitable for the organism’s natural environment. ex: difficulty getting food or avoiding predators
What lags behind which evolution or environment?
Evolution lags behind changes in the environment, leading to a mismatch in an organism’s traits and its current ecological conditions. ex: Humans evolved to crave sugary and fatty foods because they were rare and beneficial in our ancestral environment, but today they are abundant and not healthy. humans also evolved to store food in times of famine but today that leads to obesity and health issues
Why do we eat candy bars over fruit?
Because long ago there were no candy bars and therefore no excess sugar in our diet. Today we have evolved to tolerate that sugar, and therefore we eat it.
Do species with long life spans evolve slowly or quickly? short life spans?
Species with long lifespans (humans) evolve slowly meaning maladaptive traits take longer to leave the gene pool; species with shorter lifespans (flies and rodents) evolve quickly.
Is a behavior predisposed by genes or determined by genes?
predisposed
What is the EEA?
Environment of Evolutionary Adaptation
The EEA refers to the environment in which human ancestors
evolved over the last several hundred thousand years.
How are eyeglasses an example of beneficial environmental change?
Eyeglasses, which were not common until a couple of
hundred years ago. In the past, poor vision would have been
detrimental, but today, eyeglasses are part of the ecological
niche that enables people with poor vision to function in
society. this trait emerged quickly in response to recent envrionmental changes
which is selected out more quickly mildly dysfunctional traits or highly dysfunctional traits
Traits that are mildly dysfunctional may persist for many
generations before being eliminated, while highly dysfunctional traits are more likely to be selected out quickly.
Rodent behavior experiment
First Phase: A rodent enters a compartment, where an electrical
shock is given after crossing a threshold.
Phase Transition: When the gate is closed, the shock is turned off, and
the rodent is allowed to move without further shock.
Rodent’s Reaction: The rodent initially runs into the shock zone but continues to repeat this behavior despite the new
environment offering no shock.
This is an example of vicious circle behavior where the
rodent continues a harmful behavior learned early on, unable
to adapt to new conditions.
vicious circle behavior
A term used to describe an individual’s inability to break from
a harmful behavior due to past reinforcement, even when
new conditions should offer a better alternative.
Why in the rodent behavior experiment did the animal not learn?
Early-phase learning (the shock phase) interferes with the
animal's ability to learn new contingencies.
generational environmental change
Behavior that once worked is no longer effective when the
environment changes across generations.This reflects the challenge of inherited behaviors.
Sickle cell anemia pros and cons
Sickle Cell Anemia is caused by a recessive gene that
distorts red blood cells into a sickle shape.This condition is detrimental.
The same gene responsible for sickle cell anemia provides protection against malaria when only one copy of the gene is present. (2 copies leads to sickle cell) this is an example of a genetic trade off
intra-generational environmental change
Behavior that worked in the past no longer works within a
single generation when the environment shifts.
can anything be done about sickle cell anemia?
Recent advances in treatment (such as drugs for sickle cell anemia) show that genetic traits, like sickle
cell anemia, are not strictly deterministic.Medications can alter the outcome of a genetic condition, showing the interaction between genes and the environment.
genetic predisposition
Genes influence traits but do not strictly determine them.They interact with the environment to shape phenotypes.
genetic determinism
The belief that genes solely determine traits is incorrect; the
interaction between genes and the environment plays a
crucial role in shaping behavior and health outcomes.
what happens when beneficial traits are not recognized?
Sometimes, beneficial traits are not recognized, leading to
dysfunctional behavior or the lack of appreciation for certain
advantages.
Moles and their lack of vision is considered dysfunctional—what is the benefit to having this dysfunctional trait?
Moles have eyes but lack the red noise that sends messages to the brain.
Given their underground habitat, vision is not particularly
useful, though it might still offer some advantage depending
on the soil.
Despite the lack of vision, they have developed specialized tactical systems, including whiskers, which allow them to navigate and process their environment more
effectively.
The brain area responsible for processing visual stimuli in other
species has been repurposed in these moles for tactile stimuli,
indicating an adaptation to their specific environment.
Our trait of encouraging persistence when faced with challenges has its benefits, but what are some maladaptive examples of having this trait?
In casinos, the slot machine design encourages
gamblers to continue playing by presenting nearly
winning combinations (e.g., two cherries and a bell).
The close call creates an illusion that success is imminent, prompting further attempts.
This phenomenon also occurs in pigeons, which show
similar behavior when presented with nearly successful patterns.
What can cause an environmental shift?
Environmental shifts, such as changes in climate, predator-
prey dynamics, or the availability of resources, can lead to
behavioral adaptations that may no longer be as effective in
new environments.
If an ecological niche changes slowly, the species fit is likely to… (improve or worsen)?
improve
If an ecological niche changes quickly, the species fit is likely to… (improve or worsen)?
worsen
in small populations beneficial mutations spread…. (quickly or slowly?)
quickly, a few individuals can greatly influence the next generation
in larger populations beneficial mutations spread…. (quickly or slowly?)
slowly due to the larger gene pool
saturation
happens when a new gene becomes common in the
population, eventually becoming the standard gene.
if only one version of a gene is present at a specific location, what does this mean?
it is no longer considered an allele but rather a single version of the gene
proximate causes
These refer to immediate mechanisms or processes that
explain behavior in an individual’s lifetime.
ultimate causes
These address the evolutionary reasons behind behaviors.
focusing on survival and reproduction over generations.
explain how eating an apple can have a proximate and ultimate cause
Eating an apple may have immediate biological reasons (hunger), but the ultimate cause may relate to the evolutionary need for energy to survive and
reproduce.
explain how engaging in sex can have a proximate or ultimate cause
An ultimate explanation is that sex is tied to reproduction.
An approximate explanation might be the physical pleasure associated with it.
Why does sex feel good?
Early humans may have developed pathways that linked pleasure from sex to increased reproduction.
Individuals who experienced more pleasure from sex may have been more likely to engage in it, leading to more offspring and the reinforcement of the pleasurable feeling of sex through generations.
mate guarding
Male animals, including humans, often engage in mate guarding to ensure their offspring are their own, ensuring reproductive success. It is not unique to humans
birth control and its effects on offspring number
The proximal mechanism (the desire for sex) still exists, but
contraception prevents the ultimate outcome (reproduction). Over many generations, people who use contraception may have
fewer children, reducing the genetic predisposition to use it,
whereas those who do not may have more children, and their
offspring may be more inclined to use contraception or avoid it
based on individual circumstances.
benefits to engaging in sex besides reproduction
Sexual activity triggers the release of hormones such as oxytocin in
females, which can increase bonding between the male and
female. This bond can make both partners better caregivers when they do have offspring.
what is a bauble?
Male birds may collect objects like petals or shiny items to attract females. In humans, its giving women flowers or jewelry. This can attract mates and enhance their chances of reproducing
functional resources
have direct reproductive value, such as food or shelter.
non functional resources
objects or gestures that attract mates but do not directly contribute to reproduction. ex: baubles, buying dinner or flowers
Success in reproduction can be measured by…
the number of offspring and indirectly the survival of ones genetic lineage
indirect fitness
Family members who help relatives raise children, even if they do
not have their own offspring, can still contribute to the genetic
success of their family line. This can be seen as kin selection.
Why are fewer people having children?
Today, the incentives for having children have diminished, largely
due to changes in society that make children less necessary for
survival and support in old age.(they used to be needed for agricultural work, taking care of the elderly.)
potential long-term effects of decreased birth rates
Fewer younger people can affect the sustainability of social
services, such as social security, which depend on a large,
younger workforce to support the aging population.
solutions to maintain a balanced population
immigration
mechanism of learning
Two events that occur together can become associated in the brain.
For example, if Event A happens before Event B, presenting B will trigger a memory of A and
vice versa.
Can learning predict the future?
yes it can and it also forms associations that allow the brain to learn backwards (A can lead to B and B can lead to A)
proximal mechanisms
These are the cognitive mechanisms that support learning, like associating events that occur near one another in space and time. These mechanisms are not perfect but are good enough for survival and adaptation.
