PSY220H5 Lecture 8: Lecture 8
Document Summary
Humans (and all animals) are gene-producing machines with basic motivation of perpetuating their own genetic pool (desire for reproduction) Our genes predispose us to act in ways that enhance our chances of surviving/spreading: ex. Women dress more provocatively when ovulating (when can get pregnant) Fear of social or performance situations where one believes there is potential to be judged or evaluated badly by others. Social anxiety is an ancestral fear of social isolation (hunter/gatherer tribes) Evolution of dreaming: dreaming must have been fundamentally important to survival: dreaming is built into all humans; why is this, during dreaming period, significant blood flow to genital area. Occurs as daily maintenance of genital area during rem stage: dreams to consolidate information and learn, dreams to overcome fears, habituate the abnormal, etc. Women (25): select a mate to help in child-rearing: slightly older, more resources (financial), industrious, finite number of eggs that age with you until around 40 (menopause)
