The basics of evolutionary perspective in understanding the self Flashcards
Science that studies how psychological processes have evolved by means of natural selction
Evolutionary Psychology
The Basics of Darwin’s Theory
Natural Selection and Adaptation
Features of natural selection
- There is a natural variability within species
- Only some individual differences are heritable (desirable traits that aid survival and reproduction)
- The interaction between the attributes of an organism and the demands of the environment in which it lives allows natural selection to operate
TRUE or FALSE:
Natural selection does not necessarily lead to optimal adaptations in a given situation.
TRUE
In the evolutionary perspective, an attractive mate has characteristics that tell us that our mate will help to ensure our ________ as well as ________ and the enhance the __________ of our offspring
survival, reproduce, survival
evolutionary process whereby heritable genotypes that aided survival and reproduction are multiplied from generation to generation
Natural Selection
Changes in structure or habits that allows an individual to improve
Adaptation
Coupling of individuals based on their similarity on one or more characteristics
Sortative Mating
Placing similar individuals of mating age into close proximity
Assortative Mating
The tendency of members of one sex to compete with each other for access to members of the opposite sex
Intrasexual selection
the preferential choice members of one sex express for certain members of the opposite sex
Intersexual Selection (female choice)
Consequences of Assortative Mating
- Increase genotypic variance,
- Correlations among traits that were initially unrelated?,
- Effects on variance within and between families
inability to reproduce
Genetic Deadend
Ensuring the survival and reproductive success of one’s own offspring
Cinderella Effect
preventing the mate from defecting or deserting
Paternal Uncertainty
Mating Problems
- Intrasexual Selection
- Selecting mates with the greatest reproductive potential
- Engaging in the necessary social and sexual behavior to achieve conception
- Preventing the mate from defecting or deserting
- Cinderella Effect
Men reproduce _________ while women reproduce ________.
widely, wisely
TRUE or FALSE:
Evolution would have made women more promiscuous
and less discriminating in their choice of sexual partners than men.
FALSE. Evolution would have made men more promiscuous
and less discriminating in their choice of sexual partners than women.
Males and females value most highly:
Kindness and understanding,
Intelligence
Males value more than do females:
Good looks, Youth (highest reproductive potential)
Females value more than do males:
Good earning capacity,
Industriousness (Survival)
TRUE or FALSE:
In the evolutionary perspective, man should prefer to mate with a woman of high social status and solid material resources
FALSE. It is woman that is expected to prefer mates with the said characteristics
TRUE OR FALSE:
EP predicts that a man should
prefer to mate with young, fertile women.
TRUE
TRUE OR FALSE:
Females will react more aversively to sexual infidelity. and males will react more aversively to emotional infidelity
FALSE. Females react aversively to emotional infidelity, whereas male, to sexual infidelity
Variables that affect assortment (similarity with one’s mate):
Age
Race
Religion
Political beliefs
Ethnic background
Socioeconomic status
Overall physical attractiveness
Psychological characteristics: attitudes, opinions, and worldviews
Personality variables
Cognitive abilities (moderately assorted)
Physical location (neighborhood or geographical region)
