Wize University Psychology Textbook > Genetics & Evolution
Evolutionary Theories
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Evolutionary Theories
The focus of evolutionary psychology is on the origin and adaptive functions of traits.
Natural selection - Individuals with more adaptive traits are more likely to survive to reproduce.
- In every population, more individuals are produced than can survive
- Individuals have different phenotypes and heritable traits
- Environment factors make certain traits more or less adaptive
- Some individuals are better able to survive and reproduce than others
- These individuals reproduce and pass on their adaptive traits to their offspring
- These traits become more common in successive generations
An adaptation is any characteristic (trait or behaviour) of an individual that has a beneficial function in a given population that fits the following criteria:
- It must have an obvious biological purpose
- It must be consistent across cultures and over time
- It must have been predictive of fitness (survival and reproductive success) in ancestors
- It must not be more easily explained as being something other than an adaptation
Mark Yourself Question
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Practice: Evolutionary Theories
Scientists notice that people in one part of the world have larger big toes than in another part of the world, but can't figure out why this would be the case. Why is this not considered an adaptation?