Evolutionary psychology

KEY TERMS

Adaptation: individuals with certain traits or behaviors that promoted survival and reproduction were more likely to pass on their genes to future generations

Sexual Selection: includes traits that attract potential mates (sexual ornaments) and behaviors that increase the chances of successful mating (mate choice, competition)

Parental Investment: individuals invest time, energy and resources in raising offspring - this investment can influence mating strategies and behaviors

Mismatch Theory:  some aspects of modern life may be in conflict with our evolved psychological mechanisms, leading to psychological and behavioral mismatches
for example, the availability of high-calorie foods can lead to overeating because our ancestors faced food scarcity

Critiques and Controversies

• sometimes places too much emphasis on adaptation and can oversimplify complex human behaviors that result from multiple factors

•  it's difficult to test hypotheses about the distant past, some critics contend that evolutionary psychology relies heavily on speculative and untestable ideas.

• critics argue that sociocultural factors, such as upbringing and cultural norms, play a more significant role in shaping behavior than evolutionary history alone

Mate Selection

• In most species, including humans, females typically invest more in offspring (e.g., pregnancy and nurturing) than males

• As a result, females tend to be choosier when it comes to selecting mates

• Across cultures, there is a universal preference for traits associated with good health and reproductive fitness

Females:  

• Resource Acquisition ( "provider" or "resource-acquisition" hypothesis)

• Stability and Commitment

• While physical attractiveness is still a factor, females may place less emphasis on physical appearance and may focus more on other qualities, such as intelligence, kindness and social status

Males:

• Youth and Fertility (these traits are associated with reproductive success,"youth and beauty" hypothesis)

• May place a stronger emphasis on physical attractiveness in potential mates (simmetry, body proportions and facial features)

• May be more competitive when seeking mates, engaging in behaviors like mate guarding and displaying social dominance to attract and retain partners

Cooperation

• Evolutionary psychology explains cooperation through reciprocal altruism, where individuals help others with the expectation of receiving help in return

Kin Selection: Humans tend to be more cooperative with close relatives due to shared genetic interests

Aggression

• Resource Competition: Evolutionary psychology suggests that aggression can be an adaptive response to competition for limited resources, such as food, territory, or mates -aggression may have evolved as a means to secure resources for oneself and one's offspring

• Intersexual and Intrasexual Competition: Aggressive behaviors can also be related to mate competition
  Intrasexual competition involves same-sex individuals competing for access to potential mates
  Intersexual competition occurs when individuals compete to attract a preferred mate

Social Cognition

• Humans possess a "theory of mind," which is the ability to understand and attribute mental states, beliefs, intentions, and emotions to oneself and others

• Evolutionary psychology suggests that social cognition may include the ability to engage in strategic thinking and manipulation, known as Machiavellian intelligence This can involve understanding social hierarchies and forming alliances