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Psychology

Evolutionary explanation of behaviour. Psychology . Evolutionary psychology. Is determined on one idea that as genes mutate, those that are advantageous are passed down through a process of natural selection. Natural selection cannot select for a behaviour .

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Psychology

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  1. Evolutionary explanation of behaviour Psychology

  2. Evolutionary psychology • Is determined on one idea that as genes mutate, those that are advantageous are passed down through a process of natural selection. • Natural selection cannot select for a behaviour. -can only select mechanisms that produce behaviour

  3. Charles Darwin “father of the evolutionary theory” • Theory of natural selection • Animals-evolution • Primates- insight into human behaviour • Mate selection • Love of mother • Self-preservation

  4. Fessler (2006) / disgust • Study of emotions • Dan Fessler (USC) • Disgust -enabled ancestors to survive long enough to produce offspring, who in turn passed the same sensitivities to us. • Nausea experienced by pregnant women (1st trimester)4c xz

  5. Fessler cont. • Fessler hypothesized that the nausea response helps to compensate for the suppressed immune system. • Fessler gathered 496 healthy pregnant women(ages 18-50) to rank how disgusting they found 32 disgusting scenarios • Walking barefoot and stepping on earthworm • Sticking fish hook through their finger • Maggots on a piece of meant in an outdoor waste bin

  6. Before experiment • Fessler asked questions to help determine whether they were experiencing morning sickness. • First trimester scored the highest • More effective when involving food • Food-borne • The sensitivity lowers the risk of disease and infection decreases in consistent with the view of disgust as a form of protection against disease.

  7. Curt et al. (2004) • Patterns in disgust responses • Online survey; 20 images • Level of disgust? • 7 pairs in which one was infectious or potentially harmful to the immune system vs. non-infectuous • 77,000 participants from 165 countries • Findings affirmed that most disgusted when could affect us • Supports idea that disgust is a key to successful reproduction

  8. Things to consider… • Difificult to test empirically some evolution-based therefore researchers may be forced to be bias when making affirmations. • Little is known about the behaviour of early Homo sapiens, so statements about humans “used to be” are hypothetical • Evolutionary arguments often underestimate the role of cultural influences in shaping behaviour

  9. Ethical considerations; genetic heritage and people’s life. • One may not like to share about their past • Affected to find out things they didn’t want to know about their ancestors • Confidentiality and privacy

  10. So Genes are the cause of our beahviour? • Not exactly!! • It allows us to trace back our actions and their motives. • Genes can take the blame ;)

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