Chapter 8 - Evolutionary Perspectives on Personality

process by which adaptations are created and change takes place over time

• included food shortages, diseases, parasites, predators, and extremes of weather 
• - focuses on the events that impede survival

evolution of characteristics because of their mating benefits, rather than because of their survival benefits

two stags locking horns in combat is the prototypical image of this

members of one sex choose a mate based on their preferences for particular qualities

are packets of DNA that are inherited by children from their parents in distinct chunks

defined by reproductive success relative to others

modern evolutionary theory based on differential gene reproduction

anything that impedes survival or reproduction, or anything whose solution increases the odds of survival or reproduction

fear of strangers

process also produces thing that are not adaptions

incidental effects evolved changes that are not properly considered adaptations. For example, our noses hold up glasses, but that is not what the nose evolved for

the notion that our psychological mechanisms are designed to accomplish particular adaptive goals

theory-driven method of empirical research is one approach to scientific investigation

data-driven method of empirical research

defined as distress or worry about being negatively evaluated in social situations

hold that the sexes will differ in precisely those domains where women and men have faced different sorts of adaptive problems

a few males will sire multiple offspring, whereas some will have none at all

highly different in size and structure

in some contexts, two or more heritable variants can evolve within a population

delayed intercourse and prolonged courtship

a man's level of commitment to her is irrelevant, so prolonged assessment of his prior commitments is not necessary