PSYA01H3 Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Notes
Document Summary
Darwin argued that, over time, organisms originate and become adapted to their environments by biological means. His concept of biological evolution is that changes take place in the genetic and physical characteristics of a population or group of organisms over time stands as the primary explanation of the origin of life. Adaptive significance is the effectiveness of behaviour in aiding organisms to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Ultimate causes are evolutionary conditions that have slowly shaped the behaviour of a species over generations. Proximate causes are immediate environmental events and conditions that affect behaviour. To understand the present, we must understand the past the history of the individual and history of our species. We behave as we do because we are members of the human species an ultimate cause and because we have learned to act in special ways proximate cause. Culture is the sum of socially transmitted knowledge, customs, and behaviour patterns common to a particular group of people.
