Evolutionary
Psychology
Notes
Evolutionary Psychology
Becoming more and more popular with
society in this day and age
Idea that our behaviors can be explained
because they are helping us survive.
Focuses on: “Survival of the Fittest”
Those who survive are the most
successful and they pass on their genes
Evolutionary Psychology
Structure
Connected with Freud’s views
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(id-like) pleasurable to survive – strongest
survive
Phallic Personality – sex is important to show
you are strongest
Survival of the Fittest

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Those who survive are most successful
If you survive, you can gain/have pleasure
Evolutionary Psychology
Process
Evolutionary Behaviors
Need to Belong
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Want to be accepted by the group
Advantage of having fear of being cast out
If cast out – less likely to survive
We are careful to survive – so we can
reproduce
Evolutionary Psychology
Process
Altruistic
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Selflessly helping people
When you help people and don’t expect
anything in return
MORAL DILEMMA:
QUESTION: Who will you save?
Moral Dilemma
FIRE IN THE HOUSE:
You can only save 1 person...
1 year old
10 year old
45 year old
75 year old
ANSWER:
The people you are most genetically linked to.
REASON:
- youngest has more chance of reproducing
- more chance to spread genes around
Evolutionary Psychology
Development
Sex Differences:
1. Aggression: generally males tend to be
more aggressive than females

Mating Ability: males can have more
offspring, therefore there is a large
variance in competition, so you become
more aggressive
Minimum obligatory parental involvement

How much time are you involved with the
offspring?
MALES: idea is multiple partners
(30 seconds – 2 minutes to produce offspring)
FEMALES: idea is helping survival of offspring
(9 months + feeding = 2 years to care for
offspring)
Evolutionary Psychology
Development
2. Mate Preference
Most Important Attraction to Mate

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MALES: Physical Attractiveness
FEMALES: Resources
Mate Preferences

MALES:
Goal is to spread their seed (genes)
Hip to Waist Ratio: best childbearing ability
.7 in Women
 .9 in Men
(waist circumference / hip circumference = best fertility and
health)

Find best subject to spread seed

FEMALES:
Looking to find someone who will help take care of
the child
Will this person stay and help me?
Looking for resources (help, money, care, support)
Evolutionary Psychology
Development
3. Jealousy
MALES:
most jealous if partner had sex with someone
else
Disturbed if offspring is not yours, leads them to
being unsure if their genes have been passed.
FEMALES:
Most jealous if partner has emotional connection
with another person (mostly female)
Disturbed if he would leave me with the offspring
and no resources
Evolutionary Psychology
Change
Evolution – we are trying to SURVIVE, so
our behaviors ADAPT
Through our offspring we can change the
species
CHANGE... The next generation/future