PSYA02H3 Lecture : Chapter notes
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PSYA02H3 Full Course Notes
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Document Summary
Cultural evolution the adaptive change of a culture to recurrent environmental pressures. Cultural evolution is a product of human intellect and physical capacity, both of which have strong genetic components. Lifestyle the aggregate behaviour of a person; the way in which a person leads his or her life. Cultural evolution has been a primary agent involved in shaping lifestyle. Although the consequences of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours have obvious negative biological implications, the behaviours themselves can be acquired and maintained by both biological and psychological factors. Natural selection does not occur as these unhealthy traits are not related to reproduction. Law of effect states that cultural practices and customs that result in reinforcement tend to be maintained, if not elaborated (this includes unhealthy behaviours). In the last 150 years, our diets have changed as they are now considerably higher in fats and lower in fibre. This is largely due to the consumption of processed foods, fried foods and sweets.
