Week 9 - Evolutionary Psychology Flashcards
What are the 5 main theories based on evolutionary psychology?
1) Sexual selection theory
2) Parental investment theory
3) Kin selection theory
4) Evolutionary game theory
5) Modularity theory
What is sexual selection theory?
Suggests that certain traits and behaviours have evolved to increase reproductive success. This theory explains why males and females may display different mating strategies, such as men seeking multiple partners while women tend to be more selective.
What is parental investment theory?
Parental investment theory explains the differences in the level of investment that males and females make in their offspring. It suggests that females, who have a greater investment in reproduction due to pregnancy and lactation, will be more selective in choosing a mate. Males, on the other hand, are expected to compete for access to females in order to reproduce.
What is Kin selection theory?
Kin selection theory suggests that altruistic behaviour, such as helping, relatives, has evolved because it increases the likelihood of passing shared genes. This theory explains why people may be more likely to help close family members than strangers.
What is evolutionary game theory?
Applies the principles of game theory to understand how behaviours that are advantageous for individuals in some context may be disadvantageous in others. This theory can help explain why people may cooperate or compete in different situations.
What is modularity theory?
Modularity theory suggests that the human mind is made up of different modules, or specialised cognitive systems, that have evolved to solve specific adaptive problems. This theory can help explain why humans may have innate cognitive biases or tendencies towards certain behaviours.
What is evolutionary psychology?
a) A theory that suggests that behaviour is the result of adaptations to environmental pressures that have evolved over time.
What did Charles Darwin propose about emotions in his books?
Emotions have a universal basis across different species
What did Charles Darwin propose about emotion in humans and other animals?
If physiological and morphological traits were phylogenetically continuous in man and animals, the same must apply to mental and psychological states
What did Leda Cosmides propose about social exchange?
In many social interactions, cooperation is beneficial to all parties involved. For example, in a hunter-gatherer society, sharing food and resources can increase the survival chances of all members. However, if some individuals cheat by taking more than half their fair share without contributing equally, it can undermine the benefits of cooperation and lead to a breakdown in social relationships.
What is a case study that demonstrates social exchange?
Female vampire bats constantly keep track of whom they can turn to in a time of need – and actively work to repair relationships that have gone off track.
What is Modularity theory?
- Principle 1. The brain is a physical system. It functions as a computer. Its circuits are designed to generate behaviour that is appropriate to your environmental circumstances.
- Principle 2. Our neural circuits were designed by natural selection to solve problems that our ancestors faced during our species’ evolutionary history.
- Principle 3. Consciousness is just the tip of the iceberg; most of what goes on in your mind is hidden from you. As a result, your conscious experience can mislead you into thinking that our circuitry is simpler that it really is. Most problems that you experience as easy to solve are very difficult to solve – they require very complicated neural circuitry.
- Principle 4. Different neural circuits are specialized for solving different adaptive problems.
- Principle 5. Our modern skulls house a stone age mind.
What is neurological evidence for modularity theory?
- Neurological evidence: Brain imaging studies have shown that different mental processes activate different areas of the brain, indicating that there are specialised modules for various functions.
What is Developmental evidence for modularity theory?
- Developmental evidence: Infants and young children demonstrate specialised abilities in areas such as language acquisition, face recognition, and social cognition, suggesting the presence of innate mental modules.
What is Behavioural evidence for modularity theory?
- Behavioural evidence: Research has shown that people with specific cognitive deficits, such as language impairment or face recognition difficulties, perform normally on other cognitive tasks, indicating that these abilities are governed by separate modules.
