evolution Flashcards
(20 cards)
What key observation did Darwin make on the Galápagos Islands?
He noticed that mockingbirds and finches differed between islands, suggesting species change over time.
What is the main idea of Functionalism in evolution?
Every trait or behavior has a purpose; to understand behavior, we must understand its function (why it evolved).
What drives natural selection?
Inherited differences; favorable traits help survival and reproduction, becoming common in future generations.
What is adaptive radiation?
When one species evolves into many new species to exploit different ecological niches, e.g., Darwin’s finches.
What were early human ancestors called and where did they originate?
Hominids; they first appeared in Africa.
How genetically similar are humans and chimpanzees?
They share about 99% of their DNA.
Why doesn’t brain size directly relate to intelligence?
Neuron density and complexity matter more; humans have efficient brains with high neuron concentration.
What is neoteny and its importance in brain development?
It’s the slowing of maturation, allowing more time for brain growth and learning from the environment.
Why are non-human species studied in psychology?
To understand brain-behavior links and neurological disorders using animal models.
What did Maren et al. (1997) find in rats?
Hippocampal lesions caused memory impairments, paralleling human amnesia.
What did Clayton (1998) find about food-storing birds?
They had larger hippocampi, which could change in size with experience, linking memory and brain structure.
What is Game Theory in evolution?
A model of strategic decisions used to explain cooperation and competition among species.
Describe the Hawk-Dove game.
Hawks fight for resources; Doves avoid conflict. Outcomes depend on who they meet and the cost/benefit of fighting.
What is an Evolutionarily Stable Strategy (ESS)?
A strategy that, once common, cannot be replaced by alternative strategies.
What is the best outcome in the Prisoner’s Dilemma for mutual benefit?
Both prisoners staying silent, each getting 1 year.
What strategy promotes cooperation in the Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma?
Tit-for-Tat; players replicate the other’s last move, leading to sustained cooperation.
Define altruism in an evolutionary context.
Behavior that benefits others at a cost to oneself.
What is Hamilton’s Rule?
rB > C; altruism evolves when genetic relatedness and benefit outweigh the cost to the altruist.
Give an example of kin altruism.
Meerkats standing guard while others feed, increasing the survival of relatives.
What explains altruism towards non-relatives?
Reciprocal altruism and group selection; helping others with the expectation of future return.
