Human Behavior and Evolutionary Psychology

Human Behavior and Evolutionary Psychology Phobias Print How Evolutionary Psychology Explains Human Behavior By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. Learn about our editorial policy Lisa Fritscher Updated on January 17, 2020 Science Picture Co / Getty Images More in Phobias Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Types Evolutionary psychology is a scientific discipline that approaches human behavior through a lens that incorporates the effects of evolution. It combines the science of psychology with the study of biology. Evolutionary psychologists seek to explain peoples emotions, thoughts, and responses based on Charles Darwins Theory of Evolution Through Natural Selection, similarly to how evolutionary biologists explain an organisms physical features.?? Evolutionary Psychology Approach Proponents of this psychological approach posit that as our ancestors confronted problems and developed ways of solving them, some had certain innate instincts and intelligence that gave them the abilities to figure out and apply the most successful solutions. In doing so, they gained advantages, such as better health or a longer lifespan, allowing them to produce more offspring through the process of natural selection. According to evolutionary psychology, hunter-gatherer ancestors who had psychological advantages passed down these behavioral traits to future generations, resulting in a population of offspring that no longer need to consciously think about certain beneficial behaviors, as they simply “come naturally.”?? Psychological abilities, such as reading others intentions, making friends, and gaining trust, are known to help a person throughout life. Evolutionary psychologists believe that these skills are rooted in deeply complex neural circuits in the brain and that they are inherited. These innate behavioral tendencies are often tempered by input from our culture, family, and individual factors, but the principle of evolutionary psychology is that the underlying skills are instinctual. 5 Principles  of Evolutionary Psychology Evolutionary psychology is a well-defined discipline of study and research, with fundamental foundations that have developed and continue to guide new studies.?? There are five basic principles of evolutionary psychology: Your brain is a physical system that instructs you to behave in a manner appropriate and adaptive to your environment.The neural circuitry of your brain helps you solve problems in an appropriate manner. The specific ways that the neural circuitry is constructed was directed by natural selection, over the course of generations.Most of your psychological behaviors are determined subconsciously by your neural circuitry, and you are largely unaware of these subconscious processes. You rely on conscious decision-making to guide you in your daily life, and you may be aware of the conclusions resulting from the complex neural circuitry while remaining unaware of the underlying process involved.Neural circuits in the brain are specialized to solve different adaptive problems. For example, the circuitry involved in vision is not the same as for vomiting.  Your mind is based on adaptive changes that originated in the stone age when all of the ancestors of existing humans were hunters and gath erers. How Evolutionary Psychology Explains Behavioral Skills At its most basic level, evolutionary psychology explains skills that we consider to be relatively simple and common to most humans, such as language. At some point in history, early man developed language skills beyond grunting and pointing. The ability to communicate complex thoughts was beneficial for human survival, and, as a result, language acquisition abilities evolved and advanced through the process of natural selection. Evolutionary psychologists may argue that advanced language skills can lead to popularity, wealth, and other factors that contribute to a persons safety, survival, and reproduction. Nevertheless, the language or languages you learn depends on the language spoken in your home and neighborhood, demonstrating the importance of cultural input. Why Evolution May Be an Explanation for Phobias Phobias are fears that are irrational and that go beyond protecting you from danger. For example, research studies show you are more likely to fear snakes and spiders than other predatory animals, such as lions and tigers.?? From an evolutionary point of view, this may be due to the fact that snakes and spiders are more difficult to spot. It made sense to our ancestors to look carefully for poisonous creatures before sticking their hands into woodpiles or overgrown brush. Over time, that ability to recognize and quickly react to these small, quiet creatures became a trait that many humans inherited as an instinctive human reaction. In fact, a young child who has never heard of the dangers of snakes or spiders may have a dramatic reaction at seeing one, possibly rooted in evolutionary psychology.