PSY 362 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Hominidae, Natural Selection

• School: West Chester University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 362
• Professor: Azorlosa

Document Summary

Charles darwin : devised theory of evolution that emphasized a struggle for survival resulting in natural selection of most fit organisms; strongly influenced subsequent psychology. South america, darwin studied marine organisms, fossils and tribes of indians. Galapagos islands, darwin studied huge tortoises, lizards, sea lions and 13 species of finch. Struggle for survival : more offspring of a species than. Example: shortage of food in an environment of environmental resources can support giraffes, only giraffes with long necks able to reach high leaves will survive and reproduce. Natural selection : more members of a species are born than environmental resources can support, nature selects those with characteristics most conducive to survival under the circumstances, allowing them to reproduce. Fitness : an organism"s ability to survive and reproduce. Determined by an organism"s features and its environment. Adaptive features : features that an organism possesses that allow it to survive and reproduce.