Psychology 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Behaviorism, Parental Investment, Eugenics

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: L. Fazakas-Dehoog

Document Summary

Evolutionary psychology: a field of study that focuses on the role of evolutionary processes (especially natural selection) in the development of adaptive psychological mechanisms and social behaviours in humans. Cooperation: one individual helps anoither but it benefits them in some way. Altruism: one individual helps another but will cost them something. Long term cooperation in relatively stable social groups, where reciprocity is expected. Altruism evolved to increase the survivial of realatives (and ones gene pool) i. Lend a new car to someone, highest answer was to closest relative, farthest was to a friend. Chimpanzees and humans - cooalition (team up to defeat the others) Any social behaviour that ensures the survival of the young is adaptive because the young survive to pass on the genes to the next generation. Social groups evolved to ensure the survival of the young. Most common and powerful mating preferences have evolutionary significance and survival value. Males - protect and provide for female and offspring.