PPE 3003 1st Edition Lecture 10 Outline of Last Lecture I Phineas Gage II Personality and the Brain III Physiological Approaches to Personality IV Personality Theories Based on Physiology V Morningness Eveningness VI Frontal Brain Asymmetry Outline of Current Lecture I Evolution and Natural Selection II Natural Selection III Sexual Selection IV Evolutionary Psychology V Clark and Hatfield FSU 1989 Current Lecture A Evolution and Natural Selection a Those that came before us accomplished two important tasks i Survive up to reproductive age ii Reproduce b Human nature i Collection of evolved mechanisms that helped our ancestors accomplish these goals 1 Spandrels a Accidental byproducts b Architectural term and now used by psychologists c Does not serve any process but always going to be there i Space in between columns but every time there are columns there is going to be that space in between d Dreams for example i Corneas need oxygen so REM allows for that during sleep is one theory ii Still not really helping anything but are helping eyes iii Dreams are the byproduct c Survival of the fittest i Survival of the fittest individuals 1 No 2 Eventually everyone is going to die ii Survival of the fittest genes 1 Yes 2 Reproduce fit offspring and want them to get to reproductive age a If they do not make it that far your genes will not get passed on B Natural Selection a Darwin s breakthrough b Natural Selection i Theory of how adaptations are created and changes take place over time ii Building block of evolution c Adaptations i Inherited solutions to survival ii Reproductive problems posed by nature d There is a lot of variety within a species i This is essential e Some survive and reproduce i Some do not ii Need the variation iii Some send on genes some do not f Some traits are better at allowing an organism to survive and reproduce i Leads to more offspring g Offspring inherit traits that led to success h Traits that help survival and reproduction become more common in the gene pool i Are selected for i Traits that hinder reproduction slowly disappear i Selected against C Sexual Selection a Some traits have evolved and seem to threaten survival i Peacocks 1 Spreads its large elaborate and colorful wings a Does not camouflage at all b Evolution by sexual selection i Traits evolved because they contributed to mating success c Even if a trait threatens survival it will be selected as long as it is helpful in reproduction d Two kinds i Who is competition aimed at ii Intrasexual competition 1 Members of the same sex compete over the opposite sex targets a Ex Two guys fighting over a girl b Ex male deer s giant antlers are for fighting for alpha status against other male deer s iii Intersexual competition 1 Mates chosen based on preferences for certain specific qualities 2 Trying to be attractive to opposite sex a Ex Women s preference for taller men b Ex Peacock s elaborate wings to attract females 3 Many of these qualities signal reproductive fitness and healthiness D Evolutionary Psychology a Study of psychological traits as products of natural selection b Three levels of analysis i Human nature 1 Humans have a need to belong a Mechanisms that aid this belongingness i Social anxiety empathy b Groups provide opportunities to share goods and information protection and access to potential mates c Humans help one another i Inclusive fitness ii Reciprocal altruism ii Sex differences 1 Males and females a Similar in that they have faced similar adaptive problems i Ex sweat glands ii Ex preferences for mates with a good sense of humor b Different in that they have faced a variety of different problems i Ex Paternity uncertainty leads to sexual jealousy in men c Men tend to be more variable than women i Human ancestors were about 67 female but only 33 male 1 Relatively few males contributing genetic information iii Individual differences 1 Environmental triggers a Ex no embarrassment if raised by wolves 2 Trait contingencies a Ex aggressive style more advantageous is paired with physical strength 3 Frequency dependent differences a Ex just the right number of psychopaths 4 Balancing selection a Process through which genetic variation is maintained because different levels of traits are best for different environments E Clark and Hatfield FSU 1989 a Study of sex differences b Confederates approached people of the opposite sex i Hi I ve been noticing you around campus lately and I find you very attractive 1 Would you go on a date with me tonight a 55 of women agreed b 50 of men agreed 2 Would you go back to my apartment with me tonight a 6 of women agreed b 69 of men agreed 3 Would you have sex with me tonight a 0 of women agreed b 73 of men agreed
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