Post on 27-Dec-2015
Controversies over Evolutionary Psychology
Overview of The DayCriticisms of Evolutionary TheoryCriticisms of Evolutionary
Psychology
Criticisms of Evolutionary Theory
It’s just a theoryThe evidence is weakHow can you prove a theory when the
evidence is all in the past
Responses No theory is ever completely proven.
Must be stated so that it can be disproved (“Falseifiability”)
Weight of empirical evidence Fossil record Similarities among species Contemporaneous studies
Grants’ study of Darwin’s finches the Flynn effect Compressed evolution with fruit flies Computer simulations
Religious Criticisms
Idea of intelligent design and creatorLiteral interpretation of scripturesPeople are apart from natural world
(great chain of being) Famous Scopes trial
Responses
Creation as process (rather than product) in not incompatible with religion
Are we part of the natural world?Is there a great chain of being from lower
to higher (and better) forms? We share about 95% of our genes with
chimpanzees We have about 30,000 genes, rice has about
70,000
Religion involves matters of faith and morality; science involves theories about about the natural world based on empiricism
Religion and science are different spheres Religion: Right and wrong; good and evil Science: What is, why, and how it works
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Fears over Evolutionary Psychology
1. If some differences are biological, then this could justify oppression.
2. If aggression in innate, then we might begin to view violence as natural and acceptable.
3. Psychological mechanisms imply lack of free will and abdication of responsibility
Fear 1: biological differences could justify oppression
EP’s response: Scientific and philosophical views of all stripes
have been used to justify oppressionMarxism emphasizes blank slate and equality
Most biological differences among humans are trivial (humans are similar in most ways) Two people selected at random share about 99.98% of
their genes
Group differences do not imply individual differences
Fear 1: biological differences could justify oppression
Fairness does not require sameness Equality under the law Voting rights
Laws against discrimination Sex, race, religion, ethnicity, age
Knowledge of one’s own personal uniqueness can be liberating
What about social Darwinism?
Are the rich rich and the poor poor because of innate characteristics?
EP’s response High level of upward and downward social
mobility(about 50% of families change position in income quintiles every decade)
Only about one sixth of a male’s SES can be explained by genetic factors
Reproduction is the currency of natural selection, not wealth
Fear 2: If aggression is innate, this could
lead to viewing violence as natural
EP’s Response The naturalistic fallacy (if it exists, it
must be good) is just that: a fallacy. Just because something exists does not
mean that it is good or moral.
Fear 2: If aggression is innate, this could lead to viewing violence as natural
Deal with aggression with a realistic view of human nature, not a romantic ideal People have both base and noble instincts
Trust people but cut the cards Balance of power and institutions to
deal with conflict
Is Modern Civilization Responsible for Aggression and Violence?
Among pre-agricultural peoplesoften, 1/2 of men have killed
someonebattles more frequentcausalities are proportionally higherprisoners are fewer
Fear 3: Psychological mechanisms imply lack of free will and abdication of
responsibility
“Don’t blame me, my genes made me do it.” (sleeping around, murder, oppression)
EP’s responseThis argument is fallacious
it can be raised by any explanation of behaviorTwinkie Defense, Abuse Excuse
Confusing explanation with exculpationTo understand is not to forgive
Fear 3: Psychological mechanisms imply lack of free will and abdication of
responsibility
Many evil regimes have been based on a core belief that human nature is malleable and that people can be socialized to do anything.
Many fears about EP are based on Misunderstandings of EP
Misunderstandings:
Human behavior is genetically determined
If it’s evolutionary, we can’t change it
Current mechanisms are optimally designed
Critics of EP
Utopian visionariesSocial engineersProfessional advice-givers
Management consultants Child care “experts”
Summary
Criticisms of Evolutionary Theory Criticisms of Evolutionary
Psychology Critics Misunderstandings