1. CLASS 22

2. Critique of Evolutionary Psychology

3. Darwin is the Devil’s Messenger=

4. Contradicts most religious teachings
Human beings are special – not animals
Surely, we don’t come from primordial slime
No absolute proof

5. ALTERNATIVES? Cultural and religious traditions Multitudinous versions
Not scientific
No way of evaluating: you believe it or you don’t

6. Evolutionary Psychology
Reminder:
EP claims that the mind evolved as well as the body (both are pre-wired)
i.e., the way we think and act was also selected for its adaptive value

7. 1. The Story-telling Complaint
Easy to make up stories to explain current facts
Explanations are post-hoc
Unique predictions are more impressive

8. 2. The Pessimism Complaint
EP too pessimistic about the source of our bad qualities
Also implies inflexibility
i.e., we can’t fix it

9. Examples of Bad Traits attributed to Evolution
Prejudice & Xenophobia
Aggression (Lorenz)
Rape (Thornhill)
Infanticide (Daly & Wilson)

10. 3. The political complaint
EP justifies the status quo – i.e., men in power
sex roles are predetermined by biology:
“Biology is destiny”; “boys will be boys”
EP response:
Doesn't mean it's not true
naïve optimism can be dangerous

11. 4.The Impossibility Complaint -if EP is correct, then how can there be…..

12. a. Altruism sacrificing oneself for others seems to refute evolution
EP response from Wilson
Inclusive fitness
Reciprocal altruism

13. b. Homosexuality ORIGIN? Choice ? Genetic ? Childhood events ?
Congenital (hypo-masculinization)

14. How could Homosexuality Be Adaptive?
worker bee version
submissive version
creative version

15. c. Birth control Birth control is common among human societies
Refutes evolution?
EP RESPONSE: absolutely not

16. Proximate mechanisms Evolution selects proximate mechanisms
(we enjoy warmth, sweet & fatty foods, sex, sleep)
These desires continue even if we attempt to over-ride their effects (e.g., birth control, artificial sugar)
Preferences not learned; they are intrinsic desires selected by evolution
Mostly unconscious and unconnected

17. d. Steven J. Gould’s critique
evolution, yes -- EP, no
not all evolved traits are adaptive
some are just spandrells
Our main evolved trait is an amazing learning processor

18. A SCIENTIFIC ALTERNATIVE TO EP EXPLANATION OF SEX DIFFERENCES

19. Social Learning Theory
All sex differences can be explained by cultural conditioning
differences derive from social roles
Males & females grow up in different cultures

20. BUT why universal sex roles ?
Eagly and Wood
sex role differences derive indirectly from universal physical differences
males bigger and stronger
females carry the babies
sex roles are assigned to fit those differences
later maintained by tradition

21. Wrap-Up: Recent increase in activity & influence of EP
EP now on equal footing with SLT for explaining human behavior
Biggest controversy over sex differences

22. Wrap-Up: Best presentation of EP is book by Steven Pinker:
“The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature”