UNIT 3 BIOLOGY
Module 15
Evolutionary
Psychology
EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY
Relying on the concept of natural
selection to study evolving behaviors and
the mind
Darwin’s natural selection: how traits that
allow for our survival will be passed along
 A species has variations
 Those variations sometimes help it to live and/or
reproduce
 If it lives/reproduces, its genes get passed on to
next generation
CONT.
Natural Selection and Adaptation
Breeding animals…fox example
Evolution theory believes that
mutations (random chance
changes) sometimes help a species
to survive and/or reproduce
Not as strong with humans due to
capacity to learn and adapt
EVOLUTIONARY SUCCESS HELPS EXPLAIN
SIMILARITIES
Regardless of face, humans are
genetically at least 95% similar
Pregnant women example, craving
fatty foods
EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY TODAY
Second “evolution” of Darwin
Babies fearing strangers
Fathers less likely to kill own children
EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATION OF SEXUALIT Y
NEWS FLASH…..
MEN AND WOMEN ARE
DIFFERENT!!!!
Please remember: This is a discussion of
gender as a species not individuals!
REFLECTIONS ON NATURE V. NURTURE
Genes and experiences both form
us
Traits that come from genes can be
“amplified” by environment
Gender differences are
exaggerated by culture
FINAL THOUGHT…
Everything psychological is
simultaneously biological