Life

1. Evolutionary Psychology assumes that human behavior, just like human anatomy and physiology has been shaped by the evolutionary process.

A. Can you justify that assumption?

Yes, because it is saying that the mental mechanisms that underlie human behavior are held in common among people all over the world. These mental organs constrain and shape people's thoughts, perceptions and behaviors. Also, evolved mechanisms in the brain channel the evolution of human societies and human culture that make some outcomes more likely than others.

B. Don't the advanced learning capacities of humans negate the relevance of an evolutionary approach to human behavior?

No, because not all behavior is learned or just there from the beginning. According to human behavioral ecology, peoples' interests are defined in evolutionary terms: as wanting to maximize their fitness.

2. Evolutionary psychology assumes that the brain is composed of many domain-specific cognitive modules.

A. What does the phrase “domain-specific” mean?

It means that there are socialized cognitive mechanisms designed to solve problems important in the EEA.

B. Why is this assumption justified theoretically?

Because empirical evidence shows that animals are predisposed to learn some things and not others.

C. What empirical evidence exists to suggest that it is correct?

A study on rats concluded that their food aversions are based solely on the taste of foods that have made them sick, not the food's size, shape or color. However, there are certain foods that rats won't touch because their diet is strictly controlled by genes.

3. Human mating and parenting behaviors are critical to fitness and should have been responsive