PPE 3003 1st Edition Lecture 10 Outline of Last Lecture I. Phineas GageII. Personality and the BrainIII. Physiological Approaches to Personality IV. Personality Theories Based on Physiology V. Morningness-EveningnessVI. Frontal Brain AsymmetryOutline of Current Lecture I. Evolution and Natural SelectionII. Natural SelectionIII. Sexual Selection IV. Evolutionary Psychology V. Clark and Hatfield, FSU (1989)Current LectureA. Evolution and Natural Selection a. Those that came before us accomplished two important tasks:i. Survive up to reproductive ageii. Reproduce b. Human naturei. Collection of evolved mechanisms that helped our ancestors accomplish these goals1. Spandrelsa. Accidental byproducts b. Architectural term and now used by psychologistsc. Does not serve any process, but always going to be therei. Space in between columns but every time there arecolumns, there is going to be that space in betweend. Dreams, for examplei. Corneas need oxygen so REM allows for that duringsleep is one theory ii. Still not really helping anything, but are helping eyesiii. Dreams are the byproduct c. Survival of the fittesti. Survival of the fittest individuals1. No2. Eventually everyone is going to dieii. Survival of the fittest genes1. Yes 2. Reproduce fit offspring and want them to get to reproductive agea. If they do not make it that far, your genes will not get passed on B. Natural Selection a. Darwin’s breakthrough b. Natural Selectioni. Theory of how adaptations are created and changes take place over time ii. Building block of evolutionc. Adaptations i. Inherited solutions to survivalii. Reproductive problems posed by nature d. There is a lot of variety within a speciesi. This is essentiale. Some survive and reproducei. Some do notii. Need the variation iii. Some send on genes, some do not f. Some traits are better at allowing an organism to survive and reproducei. 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 pooli. Are selected fori. 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 wingsa. Does not camouflage at all b. Evolution by sexual selectioni. Traits evolved because they contributed to mating successc. Even if a trait threatens survival, it will be selected as long as it is helpful in reproduction d. Two kindsi. Who is competition aimed at?ii. Intrasexual competition 1. Members of the same sex compete over the opposite sex targetsa. Ex: Two guys fighting over a girl b. Ex: male deer’s giant antlers are for fighting for alpha status against other male deer’siii. Intersexual competition1. Mates chosen based on preferences for certain specific qualities2. Trying to be attractive to opposite sexa. Ex: Women’s preference for taller menb. Ex: Peacock’s elaborate wings to attract females 3. Many of these qualities signal reproductive fitness and healthinessD. Evolutionary Psychologya. Study of psychological traits as products of natural selectionb. Three levels of analysisi. Human nature1. Humans have a need to belonga. Mechanisms that aid this belongingnessi. Social anxiety, empathyb. Groups provide opportunities to share goods and information, protection, and access to potential matesc. Humans help one anotheri. Inclusive fitnessii. Reciprocal altruism ii. Sex differences1. Males and femalesa. Similar in that they have faced similar adaptive problemsi. Ex: sweat glandsii. Ex: preferences for mates with a good sense of humorb. Different in that they have faced a variety of different problemsi. Ex: Paternity uncertainty leads to sexual jealousy in men c. Men tend to be more variable than womeni. Human ancestors were about 67% female, but only 33% male1. Relatively few males contributing genetic information iii. Individual differences 1. Environmental triggers a. Ex: no embarrassment if raised by wolves 2. Trait contingenciesa. Ex: aggressive style more advantageous is paired with physical strength 3. Frequency-dependent differencesa. Ex: just the right number of psychopaths 4. Balancing selectiona. Process through which genetic variation is maintained because different levels of traits are best for different environmentsE. Clark and Hatfield, FSU (1989)a. Study of sex differencesb. Confederates approached people of the opposite sexi. “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 agreedb. 69% of men agreed3. Would you have sex with me tonight? a. 0% of women agreed b. 73% of men
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