Post on 22-Feb-2016
description
Evolutionary Psychology
Two Different Approaches to Psychology SSSM
Standard Social Science Model
EPEvolutionary
Psychology
Major ContrastSSSM
All is LearnedNo instinctsGeneral ProcessorCulture transcends
biology
EPSome is innateInstincts ModularityBiology builds,
influences, and constrains culture
EP PrinciplesAssumptions
Humans Evolved Theory of Natural selection
Traits vary across generations Traits that promote survival & reproduction
naturally selected Naturally Selected traits passed on to next
generation Applied to Brain and Behavior
Social Behavior as set of AdaptationsMethods and Topics: Reverse Engineering
Important Evolutionary Changes for Humans
Bipedalism Frees up the hands
Climbing Throwing
Opposable Thumbs Dexterity Tools
Big BrainsLanguageComplex Emotions & Social BehaviorConsciousness?
Example of EP Research:Mate selection
Physical Attractiveness : More important for males
Example of EP Research:Mate selection
Physical Attractiveness : More important for males
Financial Status: More important for females
Example of EP Research:Logical Thinking
Wason Selection Task
RULE: If a D is on one side, there must be a 3 on the other side.
D F 3 7
beer cola 25 16
Instincts: Depth Perception
Violence: Homicide86% homicides committed by malesMost victims maleNo society in which females > malesWhy do men kill?‘altercations’
2 x rate for domestic quarrels 5 x rate for robberies
Culture ?Status and Honor: adaptations related to mate
selection
What about culture?
A Scientific American article (June 1999) accounts for the high murder rates in the South on the grounds of a "culture of honor". A white man living in a small county in the South is four times more likely to kill than one living in a small county in the Midwest. Southerners showed higher levels of cortisol and testosterone in response to an insult. Murder rates due to arguments are higher in the South and Southwest, but murder rates associated with felony (robbery or burglary) are lower
MisinterpretationsGenes are not Blueprints (do not determine)Genes more like recipes (guide) & triggers EP is not Biological DeterminismEP is not
Genes + EnvironmentEP IS
Genes x EnvironmentCULTURE (Environment) matters!
Applications of EP: Brains, Intelligence, Talent
Human Cognitive ability and design
Spandrels
Applications of EP: Brains, Intelligence, Talent
Human Cognitive ability and designWe were NOT designed to do all that we can
do!Exaptations
Applications of EP: Brains, Intelligence, Talent
Human Cognitive ability and designWe were NOT designed to do all that we can
do!Exaptations
Race, Cultural Differences and Intelligence
Applications of EP: Brains, Intelligence, Talent
Human Cognitive ability and designWe were NOT designed to do all that we can
do!Exaptations
Race, Cultural Differences and IntelligenceGender
Applications of EP: Brains, Intelligence, Talent
Human Cognitive ability and designWe were NOT designed to do all that we can
do!Exaptations
Race, Cultural Differences and IntelligenceGenderTalent and Success: Geniuses made or born?
Inherited?Learned?
Success Factors
10,000 hour ruleContextInfluence
ParentsPeersOthers
Luck!
More ApplicationsPersonality
PsychopathologyDesmond Morris The Human ZooImpact of technology
Social Media