PSYC 4750 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Evolutionary Psychology, Insular Cortex, Neophobia
15 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Our evolutionary past helps determine what currently motivates people today. Changes in the frequency of physical and psychological traits are explained by principles of variation and selection: variation. Amount or value of a particular trait varies in frequency in the population: selection. Trait increases in frequency: variation leads to population thinking. View emphasizing uniqueness of each individual and individual differences. People differ in strength of their psychological needs and their personality traits. Inherited impulses that result in specific patterns of behaviour: some motivated behaviours appear to be instinctive. Behaviours exhibited by all members of the species. Behaviours that are released or activated by a stimulus: love for example evolved to solve the commitment problem. Commitment means one individual remains loyal and faithful to another for the survival benefits of each. Motivation for behaviour can begin inside the organism/person, such as a drive or need. How we do something or means by which an act is performed.
