What is Evolutionary Psychology?

Draws from modern evolutionary theory, biology, cognitive psychology, anthropology, economics, computer science, and paleoarchaeology. 

Individual differences in different psychological adaptations. Natural selection selects what/who will be the best.

Individual Differences Exist Among People

The discipline rests on a foundation of core premises:

We have the same brains as long ago, now in the modern environment.

Evolution by Selection

Only known causal process capable of creating such complex organic mechanisms

The Characteristics Are At Least Partially Heritable

Some characteristics result in Greater numbers of surviving offspring than others

Across the successive generations the characteristics that were more advantageous become more widespread within a population

Depending on the environment something is going to be more fit

Sometimes one beak will be beneficial and sometimes another type of beak will be beneficial. There is no set of perfect beaks and there is no perfect set of Finches. This also applies to personalities because there is no perfect set of personality traits. 

Some genes mess up when they are transcribed. This is called a mutation which are almost always bad. Variation in species happens because of mutations. 

This basically said that there was one perfect trait which was the most adaptive and all the other less adaptive variations would be winnowed out by natural selection. They would not have the capacity to survive so they would go away. 

Mutations will always be winnowed because they are bad and not adaptive. 

You have to be compatible with who you reproduce with species wise. You can’t use some ingredients for soufflé and some for chicken curry and expect some great new dish. 

All humans will have fingers but the genes will say how long they are and what color they will be. 

The change of the optimum, (the most adaptive function at that time,)should be quicker than the rate of winnowing out (the thing that takes away the less adaptive).

There is no perfect personality for everyone. Variability will continue to exist as long as the optimum is a moving target.

Costs of Extraversion

(Response to Reward)

Physical risks; reduced family stability 

Benefits of Extraversion

(Response to Reward)

Mating success; social allies; exploration of environment

Benefits of Neuroticism

(Response to Threat)

Vigilance to dangers; striving and competitiveness 

Costs of Neuroticism

(Response to Threat)

Stress and depression, with interpersonal and health consequences

Benefits of Openness

(Mental Associations)

Creativity, with effect on attractiveness

Costs of Openness

(Mental Associations)

Unusual beliefs, depression, psychosis

Benefits of Conscientiousness

(Response Inhibition)

Attention to long-term fitness benefits; enhanced life expectancy 

Costs of Conscientiousness

(Response Inhibition)

Benefits of Agreeableness

(Regard for Others)

Costs of Agreeableness

(Regard for Others)

Failure to maximize selfish advantage; disadvantageous in status competition

Over time such as throughout the years and as seasons change. It also changes across places because certain traits are beneficial in certain areas of geography. 

If there is diversity we are more likely to survive. Ex. A parasite that is deadly to people with a certain blood type would kill everyone if we all had that same blood type.

If all guys are being macho it might pay off to be the poetic guy, then you will have your pick at all the girls who like poets. Do what the others aren’t doing. 

If all other finches are eating the small seeds with their small beaks, it might be beneficial to you to have a large beak because you will be the only one with access to the large seeds so you will have more. 

Is it really bad to have more intelligence? Variation is like mutation load. People with less intelligence have more mutations and people with more intelligence have less mutations. 

If you have a mutation on one part of the brain it may affect the whole brain. Likewise, if you have less mutations in one area you probably have less mutations overall, including sperm so you will produce children with less mutations as well. 

Mutations affect your behavior, which in turn affects your fitness and whether it will be beneficial to you or not.