Levels of Explanation

Question 1

Proximate

Answer 1

concerned with the mechanisms the underpin a trait or behavior

*focus on more immediate cause/effect
*internal mechanisms and external triggers

Question 2

Selection Pressure

Answer 2

certain environmental factors that contribute to an individual or group’s survival or annihilation

Question 3

Inclusive Fitness

Answer 3

Because other members of a population may share one’s genes, a gene can also increase its evolutionary success by indirectly promoting the reproduction and survival of other individuals who also carry that gene

*this is an explanation for altruistic behaviors

Question 4

Hamilton’s Rule

Answer 4

benefit to the receiver must be greater than the cost to the actor: rb > c

Question 5

Class Example of Proximate vs Ultimate Explanation

Answer 5

Why do male songbirds sing?

Proximate: increased daylight in the spring leads to increased testosterone production, which activates a brain center that controls singing

Ultimate: singing functions to attract females and defend territory from other males, which enhance fitness

Question 6

Own Example of Proximate vs Ultimate Explanation

Answer 6

Why do rattlesnakes rattle?
Proximate: When rattlesnakes shed a layer of their skin, the skin piece at the tail remains. Because of this, every time they shed, there is one more layer of keratin. the space between these layers generates the rattle sound.

Ultimate: They rattle to warn off predators and indicate that they’re in their territory. This increases the likelihood that they won’t get trampled or eaten, thus enhancing their fitness and allowing them to live to pass on their genes.

Question 7

Why are misunderstandings of levels of analysis so common in the behavioral sciences? (3)

Answer 7

1. proximate explanations are typically desired in the social sciences
   -often emphasizes immediate mechanistic causes that result from psychological states, environmental influences, and neurobiological processes
2. Some terms have two different meanings: one at the ultimate level, one at the proximate level
   e.g. cooperation and altruism
3. Intentional language used in biology is an anthropomorphic shorthand for describing evolved strategies
   *humans intentions differ from this language
   e.g. a plant moves this direction because it wants sunlight, however, plants don’t have intentional wants

Question 8

Signaling Theory

Answer 8

different signals can be costly or ritual