Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Evolutionary Psychology Learning Objective: Examine one evolutionary explanation of behavior. What is evolutionary psychology? • Based on key principles of the biological level of analysis 1. Predisposition for certain behaviors is inherited 2. Genetically based behaviors of an individual who has reproduced are passed on • • Key assumption – • Genetically based behaviors of unsuccessful individuals are lost over time Behaviors that exist today must have been adaptive in the past Often study animals and relate to human behavior Theory of Natural Selection • Definition: members of a species who have characteristics which are better suited to the environment will be more likely to breed – Thus…pass on traits • Adaptation Curtis et al 2004 • Theory: Disgust has evolved as a food-rejection response to prevent contamination and the spread of illness • Hypothesis: There are patterns in disgust response • Method: Web-based Survey • Procedure: 77,000 participants, 165 countries – shown 20 images in pairs and ranked disgust response • One was potentially harmful to the immune system and the was non-infectious • Results – Disgust was stronger for images that threaten the immune system – Disgust was higher in young people (reproduction age) – Women had higher levels of disgust Disgust in pregnant women • Pregnancy – Nausea and loss of appetite during pregnancy is necessary for survival Fessler et al (2005) • • • Hypothesis: elevated disgust sensitivity is an evolutionary behavior Method: Web-based survey Procedure – 691 women who were not paid 1. Survey about current level of nausea 2. Disgust sensitivity in 8 different areas • Results – Disgust was higher in the 1st trimester – Higher in relation to food • Implications – Food-born diseases are more dangerous in the 1st semester evolutionary development of nausea • Evaluation – – – – Supports Curtis et al. 2004 Groups size was sufficient Self-reports may not be reliable May be reliable if they were actually confronted with real disgust-eliciting objects • Is that ethical? Evaluation of Evolution Theories • It is difficult to tests – Not much is known about the early life of humans • Underestimate cultural influences – Over-emphasis on biology Read and Take Notes • Add to your class notes (non Cornell) – Page 62-63 • Can homicide and homosexuality be adaptive behavior?