IB Psychology Topic Evolutionary Explanation for Behaviour Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Psychology Topic Evolutionary Explanation for Behaviour Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

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Evolutionary Explanations: Why Natural Selection Shapes Behaviour

Evolutionary psychology argues that many human behaviours exist because they helped our ancestors survive and reproduce.
The core idea is natural selection: behaviours that increased the chances of survival and reproduction were passed on to the next generation through genes.
Over thousands of generations, these behaviours became widespread in the human population because individuals who displayed them were more likely to have offspring.

Analogy

Think of evolution like a filter.
Each generation, the filter of the environment lets through individuals whose traits (including behaviours) are best suited to that environment.
Over time, the population becomes increasingly adapted, not because individuals choose to evolve, but because those with useful traits survive and reproduce more.

How Evolution Explains Specific Behaviours

Evolutionary psychologists apply natural selection to explain behaviours that seem universal across cultures.
If a behaviour appears in virtually every human society, it suggests a biological rather than purely cultural origin.
Fear and Phobias
1. Humans are more likely to develop phobias of snakes, spiders, heights, and darkness than of modern dangers like cars or electrical sockets.
2. Evolutionary theory explains this through biological preparedness: we are genetically primed to fear things that were dangerous in our ancestral environment.
Mate Selection
1. Evolutionary theory predicts that males and females will differ in mate preferences because they face different reproductive costs.
2. Females invest more biologically (pregnancy, lactation), so they tend to prioritise partners who can provide resources and stability.
3. Males, with lower minimum biological investment, tend to prioritise youth and physical health as indicators of fertility.

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Note

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Tip

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Evolutionary Explanations: Why Natural Selection Shapes Behaviour

Evolutionary psychology argues that many human behaviours exist because they helped our ancestors survive and reproduce.
The core idea is natural selection: behaviours that increased the chances of survival and reproduction were passed on to the next generation through genes.
Over thousands of generations, these behaviours became widespread in the human population because individuals who displayed them were more likely to have offspring.

Analogy

Think of evolution like a filter.
Each generation, the filter of the environment lets through individuals whose traits (including behaviours) are best suited to that environment.
Over time, the population becomes increasingly adapted, not because individuals choose to evolve, but because those with useful traits survive and reproduce more.

How Evolution Explains Specific Behaviours

Evolutionary psychologists apply natural selection to explain behaviours that seem universal across cultures.
If a behaviour appears in virtually every human society, it suggests a biological rather than purely cultural origin.
Fear and Phobias
1. Humans are more likely to develop phobias of snakes, spiders, heights, and darkness than of modern dangers like cars or electrical sockets.
2. Evolutionary theory explains this through biological preparedness: we are genetically primed to fear things that were dangerous in our ancestral environment.
Mate Selection
1. Evolutionary theory predicts that males and females will differ in mate preferences because they face different reproductive costs.
2. Females invest more biologically (pregnancy, lactation), so they tend to prioritise partners who can provide resources and stability.
3. Males, with lower minimum biological investment, tend to prioritise youth and physical health as indicators of fertility.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Biological Approach4 subtopics

Cognitive Approach4 subtopics

Sociocultural Approach4 subtopics

Option 1: Abnormal Psychology3 subtopics

Option 2: Developmental Psychology3 subtopics

Option 3: Health Psychology3 subtopics

Option 4: Human Relationships3 subtopics

IB Psychology Evolutionary Explanation for Behaviour Notes

Biological Approach4 subtopics

Cognitive Approach4 subtopics

Sociocultural Approach4 subtopics

Option 1: Abnormal Psychology3 subtopics

Option 2: Developmental Psychology3 subtopics

Option 3: Health Psychology3 subtopics

Option 4: Human Relationships3 subtopics

Evolutionary Explanations: Why Natural Selection Shapes Behaviour

How Evolution Explains Specific Behaviours

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Evolutionary Explanations: Why Natural Selection Shapes Behaviour

How Evolution Explains Specific Behaviours

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account