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WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9 : Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their adaptive value.

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Page 1: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

WHS AP Psychology

Unit 3: Biological Psychology

Essential Task 3-9:Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their adaptive value.

Page 2: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Nervous SystemCentral

Nervous System

Central Nervous System

Brain

Brain Imaging

Peripheral Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System

Building Blocks

Building Blocks

GeneticsGenetics

EvolutionaryEvolutionaryEndocrine

SystemEndocrine

System

Neurotransmitters

SomaticAutonomic

Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Biological Psychology

Spinal Cord

Neurons

SensoryMotor

We are here

Page 3: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Essential Task 3-8:

• Evolutionary Psychology Basics– Natural Selection– Gene producing machines– Definition

• Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their adaptive value.– Phobias– Language– Mate Selection

Outline

Page 4: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Natural Selection Natural selection is an evolutionary

process through which adaptive traits are passed on to ongoing generations because these traits help animals survive and reproduce.

According to natural selection, those organisms that are best adapted to their environment are most likely to survive and reproduce.

Thus their genes are more likely to get passed along.

Outline

Page 5: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Evolutionary Psychology

• According to evolutionary psychologists, all organisms, including humans, are "gene-producing machines" with the basic motivation of perpetuating their own genetic pool. In short, our genes predispose us to act in ways that enhance their chances of surviving and spreading. This fundamental motive underlies all our behavior.

Outline

Page 6: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Evolutionary Psychology

• Study the origins of behavior and mental processes emphasizing the adaptive or survival value of such traits

• Behavioral Genetics attempts to explain differences in populations and attribute how much of that is due to genes

• Evolutionary Psychology attempts to explain common behavior BY LOOKING AT WHAT WAS HELPFUL TO SURVIVAL OF THE SPECIES

Outline

Page 7: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Human Traits

A number of human traits have been identified as a result of pressures

afforded by natural selection.

Stranger Anxiety:

Why do infants fear strangers when they become mobile?

Parental Love

Why are most parents so passionately devoted to their children?

Phobias

Why do people fear spiders and snakes?

Outline

Page 8: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Language

• (Pinker 1994,1997,2002)• All children acquire language without specific

instruction• This happens in all cultures at about the same age

and in the same stages• The nature of all human languages is the same

(nouns, verbs, subjects, questions etc.)• Conclusion: Our brains are hardwired for

language. Even identified a gene found only in humans believed to be linked to this.

Outline

Page 9: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Cross-Cultural Surveys.

• In a survey of 37 cultures involving more than 10,000 participants, Buss (1989) tested predictions concerning sex differences in mate preferences.

• Participants were asked to rate the importance of each of 18 characteristics in a potential mate using a 4-point scale.

• 'good companion', 'considerate', 'honest', 'affectionate', 'dependable‘. 'fond of children', ‘good earning capacity', ‘industrious' , ‘intelligent’, ‘good sense of humour’ 'physically attractive', 'good looking', 'good cook', and 'frugal'.

Outline

Page 10: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Females preferred:

• good financial prospects• industriousness • This was mirrored in marriage records

in 27 countries, as women consistently married men several years older than themselves.

Outline

Page 11: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Outline

Page 12: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Males Preferred

• physical attractiveness• youth

– In every culture males preferred females who were younger than them while females preferred males who were slightly older.

• Chastity

Outline

Page 13: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Sprecher et al., (1994).

• They measured mate preferences in 13,000 single adults. • Respondents considered 12 possible assets or liabilities in a

potential marriage partner using a 7-point scale and indicated their willingness to marry someone possessing such traits.

• As in previous studies they found that women were more willing to marry someone who was slightly older than themselves, who was employed, who earned more, and who was better educated, good looks were not high on their list.

• Males showed the opposite pattern (i.e. someone younger, attractive, not necessarily employed or intelligent).

Outline

Page 14: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

“I have been noticing you around campus and I find you to be very attractive. Would you go to bed with me tonight?• Russell Clark and Elaine Hatfield (1978)• Average-looking student research assistants• Women = 0%• Men = 75%• Some men replied “Why do we have to wait

until tonight.• Repeated in 1982 and in the late 1980s with

the same results. (50-75% of the men said yes.)

Sigh . . . .

Outline

Page 15: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Buss & Schmidt, Psychological Review , 100, 204-232,

1993

Outline

Page 16: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Human Sexuality

Males and females, to a large extent, behave and think similarly.

Differences in sexes arise in regards to reproductive behaviors.

Gender Differences in Sexuality

Due to the reproductive reality, it would seem most adaptive for women to find a mate that gives the best genes, resources, and long-term parental care. Males can pass on as many genes as they can find willing partners.

Outline

Page 17: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

What Women Want?• (Singh 1995)

• Healthy looking men• Affluent • Mature• Dominant• Bold• Offer long-term mating and

investment (Gangestad and Simpson 2000)

Outline

Page 18: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Explanation of Partner Selection in Women

• Females have evolved mechanisms that enable them to detect men that will transfer resources to their offspring (i.e. health and paternal investment ).

• These are sometimes referred to as 'good provider' and 'good genes' attributes in the male

Outline

Page 19: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

What Guys Want?• A waist to hip ratio (WHR) of about 0.7

(the hour glass figure) • Full lips and small noses • Youthfulness• These features are associated with a

strong immune system, high estrogen level, and developmental stability

Outline

Page 20: WHS AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Psychology Essential Task 3-9: Explain key behaviors that evolutionary psychologists believe exist because of their

Explanation of Partner Selection in Men

• Males have evolved mechanisms that enable them to detect females that promise rapid production of offspring, and a disinclination to mate with other men (i.e. health, fertility and faithfulness )

Outline