PSYO 3280 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Cultural Universal, Weather Modification, Steven Pinker
4 Dec 2012
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Document Summary
Human nature = adaptation for survival and reproduction. Our main evolutionary purpose in life is adaptation. All humans are products of evolution (we are like all others) We are results of evolutionary processes that occurred over time. Natural selection: characteristics that increase survival (adaptation) and reproductive success in environment have advantage. Nature/evolution selects characteristics/genetic mutations over time that increases your chance of evolutionary survival and reproductive success. People engage in behaviours that replicate genes. Genes try" to spread themselves by wiring animals" brains so that animals love their kin and try to keep them warm, fed, and safe (pinkser, 1997) Because some of your genes are carried in family members, in a way, your genes will be passed on by your kin. Inclusive fitness: maximize replication of genes that designed organism. A measure of your ability to reproduce your genetic material through yourself or relatives. Social life helped humans survive and reproduce. Competition, conflict, aggression, dominance (physical and psychological), hierarchies.
