PSYB45H3 Chapter Notes -Supernormal Stimulus, Facial Symmetry, Exaptation
19 Aug 2013
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Darwin dethroned human being from their place as unique creations in the image of god. Darwin"s evidence was the similarity of human emotional expressions to those of lower animals. His broader theory of evolution would change how scholars think about emotions. The engine that drives evolution has 3 parts: Superabundance: animals and plants produce more offspring than necessary merely to reproduce themselves. Variation: each offspring is somewhat different than others differences are passed by heredity. Natural selection: characteristics that allow the individual to be adapted to the environment are selected for; disadvantageous characteristics are selected against. Selection pressures: these features of the physical and social environment that determined whether or not individuals survived and reproduced. Two kinds of sexual selection pressures determine who reproduces: Intrasexual competition: occurs within a sex for access to mates. Traits that allows some to prevail over others are more likely to be passed on to succeeding generations.
