Lecture 3: Testing Evolutionary Psychology Flashcards
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theory driven - derive hypothesis from existing theory
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observation drive - driven hypothesis about adaptive function based on a known observation - we make the observation first
Criticisms of evolutionary psychology
- not every traits has to be adaptive
- by products: not every trait off an organism is adaptive (the muscles in our bone)
- spandrels: arch way that requires a pillar/structure - Adaptations are just stories - Rudyard Kipling
- slang term to dismiss evolutionary psychology as a valid science
- we have no way to experiment or have evidence about human behaviour, it is impossible to know what our environmental were like/ what they wen through - whatever we found about our history in our modern science - people will just argue and be skeptic all that it is all just stories.
Ex. The spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian paradigm: a critique of the adaption isn’t programme - Gould and lewontin, 1979
Is evolutionary psychology just a collection of just stories?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Because we gather cumulative evidence from a variety of disciplines
Methods for testing evolutionary hypotheses: COMPARING SPECIES
By comparing data about the same trait form multiple species, we can form functional hypotheses about that trait.
- sperm competition: when a females mates with more than one male.
- depending on the mate competition - leather testes - makes are more likely to evolve due to an increase ability for sperm completion.
Methods for testing evolutionary hypotheses: CROSS-CULTURAL METHODS
By comparing across cultures, we can form hypotheses about traits being either adaptive (universal) or culturally learned (e.g. emotions)
- the expression of the emotions are INNATE
Methods for testing evolutionary hypotheses: PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BRAIN IMAGING
Allow us to test the biological subtracted of physiological adaptations.
Ex. Testosterone in men increases in the presence of attractive women
- brain responses relates to our behaviour in a consistent way - these components may be underlying the expression of these behaviour - may have evolved
Methods for testing evolutionary hypotheses: GENETIC METHODS
Allow us to estimate the relative importance of genes vs. Environment for trait.
Ex. Twins studies on menstruation onset
- any differences are likely due to environmental - similarities are due to genetic differences
- growing up without father - tend to reach early menstruation
- growing up with mother - late menstruation
Methods for testing evolutionary hypotheses: COMPARING MALES AND FEMALES
allows us to form hypotheses about sexual adaptations
Ex. Sexual jealousy are more triggered by infidelity in men
- strong sensitivity to jealous leading to infedelity
Methods for testing evolutionary hypotheses: COMPARING THE SAME INDIVIDUALS IN DIFFERENT CONTEXT
Allows us to form hypotheses related to current context, experience and development
Ex. Increase in social status results in increased confidence and sexual opportunity
- increase status - behaviour changes - express Belarus that best fit to their current condition
Methods for testing evolutionary hypotheses: EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Allows us to test hypotheses about evolutionary adaptations by manipulating/controlling a specific variable - any difference we see are due to the manipulation.
Ex. Manipulating the social experience of an animal then testing its behaviour - like studying a social isolated mouse
Sources of data for testing evolutionary hypotheses: EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS
Allows us to systematically quantify a specific experimental prediction
- strength: high controlled, empirical
- weakness: lack of natural setting, laboratory artifacts
Sources of data for testing evolutionary hypotheses: ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDS
Strength: provides snapshots of life through time - allows us to infer evolutionary exchange and diversification
Weakness: soft tissue (and behaviours) not preserved
- captures only a fraction of life
Sources of data for testing evolutionary hypotheses: HUNTER GATHERER SOCIETIES
Allows us to gain insight on human societies that live more congruently to most of our ancestors
Strength: captured human behaviour in a natural setting
Weakness: lack of control
Sources of data for testing evolutionary hypotheses: SELF- REPORT
Strength: information coming straight from the source
Weakness: not always a reliable measure
