Evolutionary Psychology: How Our Biology Affects What We Think and Do
304
Evolutionary Psychology: How Our Biology Affects What We Think and Do
304Hardcover(New Edition)
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Overview
From common phobias to our interactions with the opposite sex, the traits and behaviors that helped us to survive and thrive tens of thousands of years ago continue to have an impact on our thought processes, tendencies, and actions today. This fascinating reference examines the history, major themes and findings, and future direction of evolutionary psychology, a theory defined by a human being's ability to adapt and change in confluence with its environment. The work highlights contemporary debates and enduring questions in the field.
Filled with fascinating insights into the mind/body connection, the book addresses the evolutionary traits that can answer questions such as "Why do people crave cheeseburgers, chips, and chocolate?", "How do men and women think about problems differently?", and "Why do people cheat?" Each chapter has thematic headings, and topics include survival, mating, parenting, culture, and religion, among others. A list of references and suggested readings after each chapter points readers toward additional sources of information.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781610696814 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Publication date: | 05/09/2016 |
| Series: | Non-Series |
| Edition description: | New Edition |
| Pages: | 304 |
| Product dimensions: | 7.00(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.90(d) |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Introduction xi
Acknowledgments xv
Chapter 1 Basic Things to Know 1
The Real World 1
Levels of Analysis 5
Adaptive Problems 7
Evolution by Natural (and Sexual) Selection 9
Natural Selection 9
Sexual Selection 12
Basic Tenets of Evolution 13
Variation 13
Genetic Heritability 14
Competition 18
Products of Evolution 18
Adaptations 18
By-Products 25
Noise 26
Common Misunderstandings and Critiques 26
Genetic Determinism 27
Just-So Stories 28
Falsifiability 28
Extreme Adaptationism 29
The False Dichotomy of Nature versus Nurture 30
The False Equivalency of Is = Should Be 31
References and Further Readings 31
Chapter 2 Survival 33
The Real World 33
Landscape Preferences 35
Food 37
Cooking 39
Caloric Availability 41
Hazardous Foods 42
Conspecifics 48
Behavioral Immune System 49
Social Exchange 51
Fear 51
Across the Lifespan 53
Prepared Learning 55
Attention and Perception 56
Biological Preparedness 57
References and Further Readings 60
Chapter 3 Mating 63
The Real World 63
Minimal Parental Investment 64
Mate Value 65
Assortative Mating 66
Indicators of Mate Value 67
Mating Strategies 70
Long Term 71
Short Term 74
Sexual Conflict 76
Life History 78
Mate Attraction 80
Enhancing Perceived Value 81
Olfaction 83
Competition and Cooperation 86
Mate Retention. 88
Benefit Provisioning 89
Cost Inflicting 90
Discriminant Use 91
Mating Effort 92
References and Further Readings 93
Chapter 4 Fitness and Kinship 97
The Real World 97
Genetics and Heredity 99
The Building Blocks of Life 99
Coefficient of Relationship 100
Inclusive Fitness 103
Kin Selection 104
Kin Recognition 106
Propinquity 107
Matching 108
Recognition Alleles 109
Familiarity 110
Kin Conflict 110
Parent-Offspring Conflict 110
Siblings 114
Selfish Gene 118
References and Further Readings 119
Chapter 5 Emotions 121
The Real World 121
Basic Emotions 123
Specified Physiology 123
Universality 124
Reliability 127
Immediacy and Automaticity 128
Evolved Function 129
Coordination of Evolved Mechanisms and Behavior 129
Decision Making 131
Recognition 134
Faking 137
Individual Differences 138
References and Further Readings 140
Chapter 6 Cognition, Consciousness, and Development 143
The Real World 143
Cognition 144
Executive Functioning 147
Neuroanatomy 150
Consciousness 150
Neuroanatomy 152
Function 153
Process 155
Big Brains 157
Altriciality 157
Ontogenetic Adaptations 160
Some Proposed Ontogenetic Adaptations 160
Play 162
Immaturity 163
Epigenetic Inheritance 164
Species-Typical versus Atypical Experience 166
Typical 166
Atypical 167
Recapitulation Theory 169
References and Further Readings 170
Chapter 7 Society, Language, and Culture 173
The Real World 173
Self-Awareness 175
Theory of Mind 178
In-Groups and Out-Groups 180
Social Hierarchy 183
Leadership 185
Leader States and Traits 185
Leadership Strategies 187
Group Cooperation 188
Cheater Detection 189
Logic and Reason 189
Cues 191
Language 195
Memetics 196
Good Memes 197
Modem Memes 198
References and Further Readings 199
Chapter 8 Supernatural Agency: a.k.a. of Ghosts and Gods 201
The Real World 201
Ghosts 202
Speaking Well of the Dead 204
Moral Guardians 205
Gods 205
Religious Universals 206
Religion as an Adaptation 206
An Afterlife 207
Other Benefits 209
Promoting Beliefs 211
Making Ghosts 213
References and Further Readings 214
Chapter 9 Practical Applications 217
The Real World 217
Evolutionary Clinical Psychology 220
Education 222
Folk Knowledge 222
Secondary Abilities 224
School and Modern Learning 225
Individual Differences 228
The Law and Social Policy 229
The Environment and Sustain ability 230
Marketing 231
Neuromarketing 231
Personal Space and Communication 233
Viral Marketing 234
Darwinian Medicine 235
Personal Health 235
Public Health 238
References and Further Readings 240
Chapter 10 Other Interesting Things 243
The Real World 243
Politics 244
Understanding Numbers 246
Ancestral DNA Today 248
Neanderthal Adaptations 249
Denisovan Adaptations 251
Free Will 252
Domestication 253
Domestication Phenotype 257
Behavior 258
Physiology 259
Menopause 260
Laughing 261
Spontaneous Laughter 261
Laughter in Conversation 262
Contagious Laughter 263
References and Further Readings 264
Glossary 267
Index 279