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Evolutionary Psychology Chapter 4, Lecture 2

Explore the principles of natural selection and the evolution of human behavior and mind. Learn about genetic differences, human traits, sexuality, and mating preferences.

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Evolutionary Psychology Chapter 4, Lecture 2

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  1. Evolutionary PsychologyChapter 4, Lecture 2 “The typical genetic difference between two Icelandic villagers or between two Kenyans is much greater than the average difference between the two groups.” - David Myers

  2. Evolutionary Psychology: Understanding Human Nature First, complete handout 4.4… Evolutionary psychologystudies why we as humans are alike. In particular, it studies the evolution of behavior and mind using principles of natural selection.

  3. Natural Selection Natural selectionis an evolutionary process through which adaptive traits are passed on to ongoing generations because these traits help animals survive and reproduce.

  4. Artificial Selection Biologists like Belyaev and Trut (1999) were able to artificially rear and domesticate wild foxes, selecting them for friendly traits. L.N. Trur, American Scientist (1999) 87: 160-169 Any trait that is favored naturally or artificially spreads to future generations.

  5. Human Traits A number of human traits have been identified as a result of pressures afforded by natural selection. Why do infants fear strangers when they become mobile? Why do people fear spiders and snakes and not electricity and guns? How are men and women alike? How and why do men’s and women’s sexuality differ?

  6. Human Sexuality Gender Differences in Sexuality Males and females, to a large extent, behave and think similarly. Differences in sexes arise in regards to reproductive behaviors.

  7. Natural Selection & Mating Preferences Natural selection has caused males to send their genes into the future by mating with multiple females since males have lower costs involved. However, females select one mature and caring male because of the higher costs involved with pregnancy and nursing. Consider the “Coolidge Effect”

  8. Consider the “Coolidge Effect” In certain animal species, a male that has become sexually exhausted from repeated copulation with the same female will demonstrate renewed vigor if presented with a succession of new females. The phenomenon is called the Coolidge effect because of a reported verbal exchange between President and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge.

  9. Consider the “Coolidge Effect” While touring a farm, Mrs. Coolidge is said to have been impressed by the untiring sexual activity of one rooster. “You might point that out to Mr. Coolidge,” she told the farmer. Hearing her remark, the president asked the farmer whether a different hen was involved each time. When informed that indeed this was the case, he replied, “You might point that out to Mrs. Coolidge.” So what is the evolutionary explanation for the Coolidge effect???

  10. Mating Preferences Males look for youthful appearing females in order to pass their genes into the future. Females, on the other hand, look for maturity, dominance, affluence and boldness in males. Data based on 37 cultures.

  11. Characteristics Preferred by Males Characteristics Preferred by Females 1. Kindness & understanding 2. Intelligence 3. Physical attractiveness 4. Exciting personality 5. Good health 6. Adaptability 7. Creativity 8. Desire for children 9. College graduate 10. Good heredity 11. Good earning capacity 12. Good housekeeper 13. Religious orientation 1. Kindness & understanding 2. Intelligence 3. Exciting personality 4. Good health 5. Adaptability 6. Physical attractiveness 7. Creativity 8. Good earning capacity 9. College graduate 10. Desire for children 11. Good heredity 12. Good housekeeper 13. Religious orientation

  12. Critiquing the Evolutionary Perspective Evolutionary psychologists take a behavior and work backward to explain it in terms of natural selection. Evolutionary psychology proposes genetic determinism and undercuts morality in establishing society. Where genders are unequal, gender preferences are wide, but when they are closely equal, preferences narrow down.

  13. Evolutionary Psychologists Reply Evolutionary psychologists argue that we need to test behaviors that expound evolutionary principles. Evolutionary psychologists remind us how we have adapted, but do not dictate how we ought to be. Males and females are more alike than different, and if we study these differences we can establish their causes.

  14. “Darwinian Grandparenting” Get out your journal, and reflect on your personal relationship with your grandparents. Rate your emotional closeness from 0 = cold or negative Feelings to 10 = warm or positive feelings to each biological grandparent (identify them as mother’s mother, mother’s father, father’s mother, and father’s father). Next, use those ratings to rank-order, from 1 (closest) to 4 (most distant), each grandparent in terms of closeness. Offer any important explanations for any of your numerical answers…

  15. Homework Read p.149-153 “As mobile gene machines, we are designed to prefer whatever worked for our ancestors in their environments.” - David Myers “…the study of how we came to be need not dictate how we ought to be. Understanding our propensities sometimes helps us overcome them.” - David Myers

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