Lecture 3 - Darwin

Question 1

What is intelligent design?

Answer 1

The idea that we are complex and must have been made by something even more complex (God)
Camera/eye analogy

Question 2

What is creationism?

Answer 2

Says that biological structures are created by an intelligent being (God)

Question 3

What are the problems with creationism?

Answer 3

Pushes the Q back - who created the intelligent being?
Evidence for evo exists
eg) body parts did not emerge suddenly, parallels across history/species like brain similarities, fossil evidence, vestigal phenomenon
Poor design (blind spot)

Question 4

Describe the significance of the trip that Darwin took.

Answer 4

1831 - 5 year trip companion
Spent time in South America, Brazil
Went through the Galapagos Islands

Question 5

What evidence did Darwin collect?

Answer 5

1. Rocks filled w/ seashells far from shore - how?
2. Witnessed earthquake
3. Lyell’s Principles of Geology
   Earth formed gradually, making time for evolution
4. Collected/logged species and data
   Animals, skins, bones, etc
5. Noticed relationship between old animals and now by studying fossils
6. Differences across different islands - eg. beaks and shapes
7. Diff birds had diff functions
   eg. fins, paddles, sails, wings
8. Some creatures only existed in certain parts of the world
9. Found grasshopper 300 miles at sea
10. On land there were few sparse species; in water there were hundreds
11. Thought about how he came to the islands

Question 6

How did Darwin put the evidence together?

Answer 6

Read Malthus’ essay on population (1838)
Without war/disease, human pop would grow until out of resources
This would result in the struggle for existence where the strong survive and weak perish

Question 7

What is the significance of pigeon breeders?

Answer 7

Darwin compared pigeon breeders to nature

Artificial selection akin to natural selection

Question 8

What is natural selection?

Answer 8

Nature’s way to compensate for lack of resources
Produce more than can survive
Available resources favor those with a trait advantage
The trait is passed down through reproduction
Over long time, the species changes

Question 9

What is the function of mental life, according to evolution?

Answer 9

Originated for reproduction and survival

Question 10

What did evolution contribute to psychology and society?

Answer 10

Variability/individual differences
Eugenics
Comparative psychology

Question 11

What kept Darwin from sharing his findings?

Answer 11

Fear of the Church

Vestiges was pubb’d in 1844 and very poorly received by Darwin’s contemporaries and his mentor Sedgwick

Question 12

Discuss On the Origin of Species

Answer 12

1859
Ch 1 - Variation under domestication: deliberate breeding
Ch 2 - Variation under nature: indvd diffs and random chgs
Ch 3/4 - Struggle for existence and natural selection: beneficial variations are selected by nature
Remaining 11 chs - evidence and objections

Question 13

Describe some evidence that Darwin collected for evolution.

Answer 13

1. 8 year barnacle study - specimens from all around the world
2. Idea of division of labor - more life in one area if diff parts of the environment were used (eg. plants grow at different depths)
   Darwin left areas of his garden untouched for 3 years and documented it
3. Successfully planted seeds from pigeon droppings

Question 14

How do species diverge?

Answer 14

Through the modifications that help them adapt to different places in nature
More differences lead to better chances of adapting

Question 15

What is the species problem?

Answer 15

1. How is there such diversity?
2. Why do some disappear?
3. Why are some similar to fossils?
4. Did they all fit on Noah’s Ark?

Question 16

Describe Erasmus Darwin.

Answer 16

Believed that organic life came from a single creature, and that species develop and advance
Humans were the culmination but could still improve

Question 17

Describe Lamarck’s theory.

Answer 17

Chain of being organized by complexity

Species evolution through inheriting acquired characteristics

Question 18

What is catastrophism?

Answer 18

Said that change was due to catastrophes by God

eg) Flood in Genesis

Question 19

What is unformitarianism?

Answer 19

Lyell’s theory of geological change
Said that change was slow and constant
eg) earthquakes, volcanoes, erosion

Question 20

What is the significance of the Galapagos Islands?

Answer 20

Overplayed slightly; only spent 5 weeks there
Hints of evolution with finches on different islands
Later found out that they were 14 new species

Question 21

Who else had similar ideas to Darwin?

Answer 21

Lamarck, Erasmus Darwin, Wallace, Vestiges author

Question 22

How did the scientific and religious communities feel about Darwin’s theory?

Answer 22

Religious - denounced Darwin

Scientific - fairly quick acceptance; zeitgeist

Question 23

What is sexual selection?

Answer 23

Occurred along side natural selection

Males with advantages established dominance and reproduced

Question 24

What did Darwin contribute to developmental psychology?

Answer 24

1877 - Biographical Sketch of an Infant

First son’s psychological and physical development

Question 25

What role did evolution play in functionalism?

Answer 25

Was the foundation of functionalism Human behaviour and mental processes in terms of adapting to envr eg) consciousness - assess/solve prob quickly eg) habits - free consciousness to solve other problems

Question 26

What are the greatest contributions evolution had for psychology?

Answer 26

1. Continuity of mental processes between humans and other species gave rise to comparative psychology 2. Emphasis on individual variation 3. Emotional expression research

Question 27

What did Darwin contribute to emotional expression research?

Answer 27

1872 - Expressions of Emotions in Man and Animals First scientific attempt to study emotional expression Direct contrition to psy history Emotional response, facial muscles, theory of emo expression evolution

Question 28

How did Darwin explain expressions?

Answer 28

Difficult to study normal adults, so studied children and insane Galvanization - electrodes on skin that lead to muscle contractions If emotions evolved, they should be universal

Question 29

What were the main tenets of Darwin's emotional expression theory?

Answer 29

1. Emotions as serviceable associated habits Origin - bodily action that served adaptive function became assc'd with similar situations eg) contempt = horrible odor -> offense eg) surprise = wide eyes to determine cause 2. Antithesis Opposite emotions in opposite bodily reactions eg) dog pose to be big; opposite = submission 3. Direct action of nervous system Emotional expression is a side effect of physiological arousal eg) trembling from a strong emotion

Question 30

What is the implication of universal emotional expressions?

Answer 30

Expressions are instinctive | Humans seem to share traits with animals

Question 31

What were Spalding's contributions to psychology?

Answer 31

Founded ethology (study of instinctive animal bhvr) Instinct - experience irrelevant to some abilities (eg. baby chicks pecking) Imprinting - young birds follow 1st object Critical period - must develop bhvrs now or never

Question 32

What were Romanes' contributions to psychology?

Answer 32

1882 - Animal Intelligence Detailed catalog of animal behavior from insects to primates Founder of comparative psy

Question 33

What were some problems with Romanes' contributions?

Answer 33

A lot of anecdotal evidence Potential for bias and exaggeration, so discredited sometimes Anthropomorphism not always taken seriously Believed dogs were capable of planning, bartering, etc

Question 34

What were Morgan's contributions to psychology?

Answer 34

Found probs w/ Romanes' work Improved by being more systematic and using evidence Did not rule out anecdote but said to be cautious Shifted comparative psy from anthro -> simple expl's Later infl'd Skinner

Question 35

What was Morgan's Canon?

Answer 35

Do not explain animal behaviour more complex than the observation allows for There is not always a higher faculty, sometimes it is just reflex (eg. Tony the terrier) Animals had just enough complexity they needed to survive

Question 36

What were Galton's contributions to psychology?

Answer 36

Believed that intelligence was innate and hereditary 1869 - Hereditary Genius Looked at family trees and saw talent run through them Basis of nature/nurture debate Developed correlations 25% of his research was directly related to psychology Individual differences, research and observations about cognition used today

Question 37

Who was de Candolle and what did he believe about intelligence?

Answer 37

Swiss botanist Looked at 300 scientists and saw that social, political, and economical factors were associated with fame Disagreed that intelligence was hereditary

Question 38

What methods did Galton use?

Answer 38

Surveys and questionnaires 1. 180 scientific elite asked about p'ty, phys attrbs, fam chars, upbring, origin of sci interest Galton said that scientific interest was mostly nature due to early interest in it 2. 94 pairs of twins - supported hereditary beliefs But anecdotal and biased 3. Anthropometric Lab

Question 39

What is eugenics?

Answer 39

Coined by Galton Society should actively improve genetic material Positive eugenics - encourage certain people to reproduce

Question 40

What was the Anthropometric Lab?

Answer 40

Developed by Galton in 1880s - tested 17k Ways to measure talent but mostly physical Some sensory-motor (reaction, aud/vis acuity, color) Said wmn were inferior - inadequate sensory capability Not useful but 1st serious attempt

Question 41

What did Galton contribute to mental imagery and association research?

Answer 41

1. Told people to imagine breakfast table Misreported that scientist friends had absence of imagery 2. Word Association Test - 75 words 40% youth, 45% manhood, 15% recent, 25% same Less variety than suspected

Question 42

What modern field developed out of evolution?

Answer 42

Evolutionary psychology | Use evolution to explain human behaviour and develop testable predictions