1. E VOLUTION 2.2 Genetics and behaviour

2. Evolution Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution The environment challenges the individual Which leads to that those who adapt best to the environments challenges will have a greater chance of surviving, giving offspring, and so pass on their genes to next generation.

3. The theory of natural selection Charles Robert Darwin 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882

4. Survival of the fittest One develop characteristics that are suitable for the environment - adaption

5. DARWIN AWARDS FAVORITE QUOTE! "Just think how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of them are even stupider!" --George Carlin

6. Darwin laid the foundation for psychologist and biologist to study animals – to get more insight about humans

7. LanguageLanguage 1 Mate selection 2 Facial expressionsFacial expressions 3 Examples of what one can study using animals (and mostly primates)

8. Evolutionary psychology Genes mutate, those that are advantageous are passed down through a process of natural selection They try to explain how we have developed over time and why

9. N ATURAL SELECTION CANNOT SELECT A BEHAVIOUR ! C AN ONLY SELECT MECHANISMS THAT PRODUCE BEHAVIOUR

10. One example of evolutionary research The study of emtions: Fessler (2006) did research on disgust

11. Study on disgust Fessler argued that disgust allowed our ancestors to survive long enough to produce offspring.

12. Fessler study on disgust Fessler Investigated the nausea experienced by women beginning of their pregnancy During this period an infusion of hormones lowers the expectant mother’s immune system so as not to fight the new foreign genetic material in her womb. His theory: maybe the nausea response helps to compensate for the suppressed immune system

13. Method 496 pregnant women, Let them consider 32 potentially stomach- turning scenarios Let them rank how disgusting they were Example: sticking a fish hook through their finger

14. Disgust Another study by Curtis et al. (2004) who carried out an online test to test whether there are patterns in people’s disgust responses. Try it now: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ science/humanbody/m ind/surveys/disgust http://www.bbc.co.uk/ science/humanbody/m ind/surveys/disgust

15. Results of the studies Fessler Women scored higher in the beginning of their pregnancy and the ones having morning sickness scored high on the ones involving food. Natural selection may have helped compensate for the increased susceptibility to disease during this risky period in pregnancy, by increasing the urge to picky about food Curtis Disgust was stronger for those images which threaten our immune system – women showed higher which supports the first study as well Disgust decreased with age

16. Evolutionary psychology Weaknesses: They see what they want to see – confirmation bias. Difficult to test the theories Little know how it really was back in time – hypothetical Underestimate the role of culture in shaping behaviour

17. Article for next class Read the article Eugenics revisited 1.Come prepared to discuss the article on Wednesday 2.come up with at least two discussion questions for the class to discuss