PSYC14H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Big Bang, Robin Dunbar, Homo Habilis
Document Summary
Human traits are adaptive and they serve a function and evolve over time to serve the function. Self deception - if you can deceive yourself then you can deceive others. Biological genes analogous to cultural memes (dawkins coined this term) Gene or idea that can be copied and shared longevity, fecundity spread rapidly and successfully, fidelity true to the original source. Situation tagged with emotions is more likely to be shared gossip. Why religious/spiritual ideas are catchy b/c they are minimally counterintuitive e. g. jesus the son is the father, angels/ghosts that can watch over us. When we hear a catchy song it"s held in mind and you share with the next person and it is propagated. Big bang theory how fast gossip travels. An idea replicator reproducing itself in a new host. Instrumental behaviors/stance there is a goal and an outcome, you can see how the action is linked to the goal.
