A Unified Psychology

1. A Unified Psychology Evolutionary Psychology as a Metatheory

2. Universal Acid • The Philosopher Daniel Dennett (1995) has described Darwinian theory as a “Universal Acid” • Evolutionary theory can be applied to all domains of psychology, unifying them by asking Ultimate questions, rather than proximate ones • As such, EP provides a metatheory for the field of Psychology

3. Cognitive Psychology (1) • For quite some time, a debate over naturalistic experimentation in cognitive psychology has been waged • The “purist” argument is one of experimental control and the avoidance of contamination • The “naturalist” argument is one of ecological validity

4. Cognitive Psychology (2) • CP assumes mechanisms are general-purpose and content-free • EP argues, however, that there does not exist any “general problem” with a “general solution” and that the number of possible responses are nearly infinite in a general-purpose model • Moreover, how can we study a mechanism without understanding its function?

5. Cognitive Psychology (3) • According to CP doctrine, individuals constantly make logical errors when tested • However, it has been argued by evolutionary psychologists that experimental tasks are often not ecologically valid • When tasks are more naturalistic, they produce strikingly good results • E.g., Wason task

6. Social Psychology (1) • Humans are a highly social species • Hence, we should expect a good deal of adaptations to work in the social domain • Social psychological research has often focused on behavioural phenomena without attempting to understand the origins of these phenomena • Proximate vs. Ultimate causes

7. Social Psychology (2) • Several evolutionary theories shed light on social phenomena, such as inclusive fitness, reciprocal altruism, and sexual choice • Discriminative parental solicitude • Bargaining behaviour • Cell phones as lekking devices • Multilevel selection may be of particular relevance here

8. Developmental Psychology • There is considerable consensus in the DP literature regarding developmental stages • However, without a selectionist approach, an understanding of why these features develop when they do is lacking • Infant survival and crying • Father-absence and reproductive strategies • Intrasexual competition and risk

9. Personality Psychology • The literature has consistently demonstrated heritable personality dispositions • If directional selection works to reduce variability, how are these multiple personality dispositions maintained? • Niche picking and birth order • Reactive heritability and physical traits • Frequency-dependent selection and psychopathy

10. Clinical Psychology • The DSM is an explicitly atheoretical text with regard to causes • Criteria for mental disorder may not be somewhat value laden • Wakefield has argued for the idea of “harmful dysfunction” • Dysfunction may be due to genetic factors, neurodevelopmental insults, or adaptive lag • Autism and theory of mind

11. Cross-Cultural Psychology • “Culture” has been falsely pitted against “nature” • They are heavily interwoven concepts • The concept of evoked culture provides an interesting synthesis of cultural and genetic factors • Food variance and sharing • Pathogen prevalence, FA, & attractiveness

12. The Wrap-Up • Evolutionary psychology can provide a metatheory for the field of psychology • Unifies psychological theory by researching Ultimate causation • EP does not “compete” with proximate models, only attempts to find an appropriate explanatory framework for them • EP is relevant to all domains of psychology, be they cognitive, social, developmental, personality, clinical, or cultural

13. Things to Come • General course review • Final exam review • BRING QUESTIONS!!!!!!!!!