Midterm Flashcards
3 products of evolutionary process:
adaptations, by-products of adaptations, and random effects
Define adaptation
- inherited and reliably developing characteristic
- exists due to natural selection because it HELPED SOLVE A PROBLEM OF SURVIVAL OR REPRODUCTION during the period of its evolution.
Define by-products in evolution
- Characteristics that do not solve adaptive problems and do not have a functional design.
- “carried along” with functional characteristics.
What does the function of an adaptation refer to?
refers to the adaptive problem it evolved to solve
Is it an adaptation? How can I tell?
Is it EFFICIENT (solves a problem), ECONOMIC (solves in a cost-effective manner), and RELIABLE (performing dependably in the context in which it was designed to operate)?
What is the EEA?
Environment for evolutionary adaptedness.
The selection forces, or adaptive problems, that were responsible for the shaping of the adaptation over evolutionary time.
______ are the primary products of evolution by selection
adaptations
Is bipedal walking an adaptation?
It is reliable (seen across species)
It is economical (more efficient, less energy use, faster)
It is efficient (ex: solved the adaptive problem of needing to run from predators faster and run for longer)
2 strategies for generating and testing evolutionary hypotheses
- Top-Down Strategy:
- step 1: derive hypothesis from existing theory
- step 2: test predictions based on hypothesis
- step 3: evaluate whether empirical results confirm predictions. - Bottom-up Strategy
-step 1: develop hypothesis about adaptive function based on a known observation
step 2: test predictions based on hypothesis
step 3: evaluate whether empirical results confirm predictions
Which theory predicts psychological differences between men and women?
theory of parental investment
Properties of an evolved psychological mechanism
-exists in its form because it solved a specific problem of survival or reproduction RECURRENTLY over evolutionary history.
-is designed to take in only a narrow slice of information (ex: human eye is only sensitive to electromagnetic waves within the visual spectrum).
-The input of an EPM tells an organism the particular adaptive problem it is facing.
-The input of an EPM is transformed through decision rules into output.
input –> decision rules (if then) –> output
-the output can be physiological activity, information to other psychological mechanisms, or manifest behaviour.
-the output is directed toward the solution to a specific adaptive problem.
So, what is an evolved psychological mechanism? Define
In summary, an APM is a set of procedures within the organism designed to take in a particular slice of information and transform that info via decision rules into output that historically has helped with the solution to an adaptive problem.
Broad adaptive problems:
- problems of survival and growth
- problems of mating
- problems of parenting
- problems of aiding genetic relatives
Genetic drift can result from:
- Mutation: random change in DNA
- Founder Effect
- Genetic Bottlenecks
3 forms of natural selection:
- Directional Selection
- Disruptive Selection
- Stabilizing Selection
Define neophobia
strong aversion to new foods
adaptation found in rats and humans
Evidence of Wrangham’s cooking hypothesis
- cooking food provides a predictable increase in its net energy value
- Cooking renders food more easily digestible
- Cooking is a human universal
- human brain requires tremendous amounts of calories to function (fibrous fruit and other raw foods rarely provide enough)
- humans fare poorly on a raw-only diet. Some women lose ability to reproduce
antimicrobial hypothesis
spices kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms and prevent the production of toxins in food.
Allows humans to avoid food poisoning.
In what climate are more spices used?
in hotter climates, where unrefrigerated foods spoil more quickly
Theory predicts that women will have better ____ ____ memory as a gathering adaptation; men will be better at _________ abilities, map reading, and mental rotation abilities required for throwing a spear in space at a prey.
Theory predicts that women will have better SPATIAL LOCATION memory as a gathering adaptation; men will be better at NAVIGATIONAL abilities, map reading, and mental rotation abilities required for throwing a spear in space at a prey.
Who scored higher in 3D rotational tasks? men or women?
men
who scored higher in object location memory task?
women
adaptive function of freezing as a result of fear:
stopping, becoming alert, watchful, vigiant, and on guard
adaptive function of flight and fight:
flight: running away from threat
fight: attacking source of threat
