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EVOLUTION 2.2 Genetics and behaviour Evolution Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution • The environment challenges the individual • Which leads to that those who adapt best to the environments challenges will have a greater chance of surviving, giving offspring, and so pass on their genes to next generation. The theory of natural selection Charles Robert Darwin 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882 Survival of the fittest One develop characteristics that are suitable for the environment - adaption DARWIN AWARDS FAVORITE QUOTE! "Just think how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of them are even stupider!" --George Carlin Darwin laid the foundation for psychologist and biologist to study animals – to get more insight about humans Examples of what one can study using animals (and mostly primates) 1 • Language 2 3 •Mate selection • Facial expressions Evolutionary psychology • Genes mutate, those that are advantageous are passed down through a process of natural selection • They try to explain how we have developed over time and why NATURAL SELECTION CANNOT SELECT A BEHAVIOUR! CAN ONLY SELECT MECHANISMS THAT PRODUCE BEHAVIOUR One example of evolutionary research The study of emtions: Fessler (2006) did research on disgust Study on disgust • Fessler argued that disgust allowed our ancestors to survive long enough to produce offspring. Fessler study on disgust • Fessler Investigated the nausea experienced by women beginning of their pregnancy • During this period an infusion of hormones lowers the expectant mother’s immune system so as not to fight the new foreign genetic material in her womb. • His theory: maybe the nausea response helps to compensate for the suppressed immune system Method • 496 pregnant women, • Let them consider 32 potentially stomachturning scenarios • Let them rank how disgusting they were • Example: sticking a fish hook through their finger Disgust • Another study by Curtis et al. (2004) who carried out an online test to test whether there are patterns in people’s disgust responses. Try it now: • http://www.bbc.co.uk/ science/humanbody/m ind/surveys/disgust Results of the studies Fessler • Women scored higher in the beginning of their pregnancy and the ones having morning sickness scored high on the ones involving food. • Natural selection may have helped compensate for the increased susceptibility to disease during this risky period in pregnancy, by increasing the urge to picky about food Curtis • Disgust was stronger for those images which threaten our immune system – women showed higher which supports the first study as well • Disgust decreased with age Evolutionary psychology • Weaknesses: • They see what they want to see – confirmation bias. Difficult to test the theories • Little know how it really was back in time – hypothetical • Underestimate the role of culture in shaping behaviour Article for next class • Read the article Eugenics revisited 1. Come prepared to discuss the article on Wednesday 2. come up with at least two discussion questions for the class to discuss