Lecture 7 Flashcards
What is misunderstanding 1?
“Natural” behaviors are, by definition, moral behaviors.
What is misunderstanding 2?
If a behaviour derives from an evolved psychological mechanism, it cannot be modified.
What is misunderstanding 3?
Evolution’s “reasons” for our behaviour must match over own.
What is inclusive fitness?
ALL copies of your genes passed on to the next generation matter, including siblings, nieces, second cousins, etc.
Also seen as selection at the level of the gene.
From an evolutionary perspective, it doesn’t matter who carry your genes. It is just important to save as much of your genes as possible – and that is done by saving as many relatives as possible – no matter how many % of the genes you have in common with them.
What is kin selection?
Genes that promote helping relatives can survive if: (benefit to recipient * % genes in common) > cost to donor. Used when finding out if you would sacrifice your own life to save a relative – and it depends on how much of your genes you have in common with that relative.
What is reciprocal altruism?
You can receive a favor now in promise for a receiving favor later as a payment.
What has led to Neo-Darwinism?
Kin selection and reciprocal altruism
What is the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness?
It is a way to get away from sociobiology. Each adaption has its own EEA.
Why is EEA important to keep in mind when we think about whether we expect our evolved mental mechanisms to cause adaptive behaviors in our current environment?
Adaptions to survive in the EEA may no longer be optimal – for example, xenophobia may have made sense in an evolutionary context before. It is less sensible to be afraid of unfamiliar people today. Out anxiety and fear thoughts may have made more sense before. Our food preferences may no longer be relevant for our future.
Our behaviors may not show their evolutionary function, but the underlying psychological mechanisms do!
What three mechanisms might account for the preservation of individual differences over the course of evolution?
Pursuing the best option given your particular circumstances
Frequency dependent selection: if everyone else is a pursuing one strategy (e.g., highly restrictive mating), it may pay off to pursue the other (e.g. less restrictive mating)
Fluctuating optimum levels: the “best” strategy of the moment may depend on features of the environment which routinely change. E.g., in risky environments, unrestricted mating may do better than at other times.
Pros and cons for being high in extraversion
Pros: pursuit of resources and rewards. Have higher number of sex partners. Have more social support.
Cons: risk taking (e.g., hospitalization). More hospitalized. Their children are more likely to be raised by other people than themselves.
Pros and cons for being high in openness
Pro: creativity. Creative problem solving. Women find creativity attractive. Creative jobs have more sex partners.
Cons: psychosis
Pros and cons for being high in neuroticism
Pros: safety and avoidance of failure. Generally lower levels of mental and physical health.
Cons: psychopathology and missed opportunities.
Pros and cons for being high in conscientiousness
Pros: achievement of long-term goals. Higher life expectancy, more success in employment.
Cons: missed opportunities and compulsiveness. More likely to turn down risky opportunities for success, in business and romance.
Pros and cons for being high in agreeableness
Pros: smoother social interactions. You avoid conflict with other people.
Cons: failure to secure resources or loss of resources. Lower levels of creative accomplishment and of compensation among executives.
