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Evolutionary Psychology > Introduction to Evolutionary Psychology > Flashcards

Introduction to Evolutionary Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Define Evolutionary Psychology

A

The study of human
behaviour and cognition from an evolutionary
perspective.

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2
Q

What is an adaptation?

A

A feature of an organism shaped by natural selection to solve biological problems or enhance reproductive success in past generations.

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3
Q

Three reasons why we should use an evolutionary approach in psychology.

A
  1. Science is the study of the world and how it works - we expect consistency between levels
  2. The tree of life
  3. Functionality
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4
Q

If evolution is defined as changes in gene frequency over time, why should we focus on changes in traits?

A

Because traits are the phenotype, the interaction between genes and the environment, and that’s what shapes the organism and its behaviour

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5
Q

What are the four forces of evolution?

A
  1. Mutation
  2. Migration (gene flow)
  3. Genetic Drift
  4. Natural Selection
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6
Q

Explain genetic drift

A

Random “sampling error”, no direction

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7
Q

Explain natural selection

A
  • variation in the population for a trait
  • trait must impact reproductive success
  • trait must be heritable
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8
Q

Explain Mutation

A

A change in a gene

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9
Q

Explain Migration (gene flow)

A

The movement of individuals from one population to another, the migrants contribute their genes to the gene pool of the new population.

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10
Q

Why is genetic drift analogous to bad luck?

A

Because it’s changes in genotypes by chance

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11
Q

Explain why survival of the fittest does not capture the process of natural selection as an expression?

A

Because survival is not as important as reproduction. Reproduction of the fittest would be better.

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12
Q

What is fitness in the context of evolution?

A

Reproductive success

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13
Q

How do we decide that something is an adaptation?

A

An adaptation is an adjustment of an organism to their environment that improves their chances of survival in that environment.

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14
Q

Justify why the human brain shows evidence of being an adaptation (or set of adaptations)?

A
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15
Q

What is the difference between a proximate and ultimate explanation?

A
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16
Q

What is Ontogeny? (Tinberg’s trait questions)

A

How does it develop?

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17
Q

What is Phylogeny? (Tinberg’s trait questions)

A

How did it evolve?

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18
Q

What is Proximate? (Tinberg’s trait questions)

A

How does it work?

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19
Q

What is Ultimate? (Tinberg’s trait questions)

A

For what problem is it adapted? What does it do for fitness? (Why?)

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20
Q

What did Garcia’s experiments with rats reveal?

A
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21
Q

What is adaptive memory?

A
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22
Q

What did Nairne et al show in their memory studies?

A
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23
Q

What is the EEA?

A
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24
Q

How does Silverman’s research support the idea of the EEA?

A
25
Q

What observation did Nick Humphreys make about ape brains?

A
26
Q

What is the Social Brain Hypothesis?

A
27
Q

What evidence does Dunbar provide to support the idea of a Social Brain?

A
28
Q

What is Dunbar’s ‘magic number’ for human social group size?

A
29
Q

How does Dunbar support his ‘magic number’ claim?

A
30
Q

What is Machiavellian Intelligence?

A
31
Q

Why is ToM relevant to the Social Brain?

A
32
Q

What is directive Natural Selection?

A
33
Q

What is disruptive N.S?

A
34
Q

What is stabilising N.S?

A
35
Q

How do directive/disruptive/stabilising N.S relate to adaptive variation, if at all?

A
36
Q

How can variation be favoured by N.S?

A
37
Q

Explain how shyness and boldness can both be favoured by selection. How was this studied in fish?

A
38
Q

How do we explain the existence of left-handedness using a frequency dependent selection viewpoint. Provide study examples to support your answer.

A
39
Q

Discuss evidence for human personalities being adaptive.

A
40
Q

Why was sexual selection seen as a challenge to Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection?

A
41
Q

What is sexual selection?

A
42
Q

In intrasexual selection which one is usually the one doing the competing?

A
43
Q

Why are males usually less choosy than females for mates?

A
44
Q

What makes females tend to be the choosier sex?

A
45
Q

List 4 reasons why investing in offspring is more costly for human females:

A
46
Q

What evolutionary reason is there for males consenting to intercourse sooner than females?

A
47
Q

What two factors primarily limit female reproductive capacity?

A
48
Q

What primarily limits male reproductive capacity?

A
49
Q

Why is minimum acceptable earning capacity higher for men than women?

A
50
Q

Why are women thought to care more about ambition and status in a potential partner?

A
51
Q

What does the phrase “good genes” mean in an evolutionary context?

A
52
Q

Why are good genes attractive or desired?

A
53
Q

Explain why peacocks have such large tails (relate answer to good genes):

A
54
Q

Explain the findings of the T-shirt study:

A
55
Q

What is the explanation for men’s preference for youth in women?

A
56
Q

Contrast the motives for men and women to engage in short-term mating strategies:

A
57
Q

Why do humans have bigger penises and testes relative to body size compared to gorillas?

A
58
Q

Discuss why males may have a preference for a particular waist to hip ratio:

A
59
Q

How does the female ovulatory cycle offer an opportunity for reproductive strategy? Is there evidence that this happens?

A

Evolutionary Psychology (1 decks)

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