Buss, Evolutionary Psychology, 3rd edition

Chapter 1 Study Guide

 

  1. What is the goal of the field of evolutionary psychology according to Buss?  What are the chief kinds of research questions in the field?
  2. Was Darwin the first scientist to think about evolution?  Defend your answer commenting on examples such as Lamarck and others.  Given that Darwin was not the first, what is the main contribution from Darwin (and Wallace of course)?
  3. Buss states that natural selection boils down to three “essential ingredients”:  variation, inheritance, and selection.  Be able to describe each component.
  4. Compare and contrast natural selection and sexual selection.
  5. Be able to describe the types of sexual selection:  intrasexual and intersexual.
  6. Be able to describe the other factors that may influence evolution:  genetic drift/gene flow.  Give examples of genetic drift.  Why are these processes considered random?  Can natural selection and genetic drift work together?
  7. What were some of the criticisms of the theory of evolution by natural selection?
  8. Be able to define and compare:  gene, allele, genotype, phenotype, chromosomes, epigenesis.
  9. What is ethology?  Imprinting?  Fixed action patterns?  Give examples, and note how this field contributes to our study of evolutionary psychology.
  10. What are the four questions about behavior, according to Tinbergen?  How do these relate to the chief kinds of research questions for evolutionary psychology?
  11. Know these terms:  fitness/reproductive success/differential reproductive success.
  12. How are “classical or direct” fitness and “inclusive fitness” related?
  13. What is genetic relatedness?  Be able to compute it for close relatives. 
  14. What are adaptations? Be familiar with Williams’ criteria for invoking the label “adaptation”.
  15. Speciation can be related to adaptation on a grand scale.  What are species?  How do you characterize species (KPCOFGS)?
  16. What is group selection?  Why do most scientists not focus on this type of selection?
  17. What were Trivers’ main contributions, briefly (there will be chapters on these)?  How does parental investment theory relate to sexual selection?  What is the idea of reciprocal altruism?  What is parent offspring conflict?
  18. I often use sociobiology and evolutionary psychology interchangeably.  Why?  Why would/was the idea of sociobiology applied to humans be controversial?
  19. What are misconceptions about evolution/natural selection?  In particular, consider intentionality, genetic determinism, optimality.
  20. Human evolution milestones:  pp. 20- 24.  We will introduce this now and go into more when Leakey comes to campus (October 13).
  21. Why is bipedalism such an adaptation?
  22. How did early tools change?
  23. Be able to distinguish characteristics and geography of Homo habilis, erectus, neanderthal and sapiens.
  24. What are the Multiregional and the Out of Africa theories? Which is more supported by data so far?
  25. Soon after Darwin published Origin of Species, we see several theories that seem to relate:  Freudian theory and James’ lists of instincts.  Be able to describe these theories and how they relate to EP.
  26. How was the development of behaviorism a reaction to James?  Refresh yourself related to what you know about Pavlov, Watson and Skinner.
  27. What aspects of cultural variability (or lack of it) provide evidence for EP?
  28. What is so interesting about Harlow’s motherless mothers, the Garcia Effect (learned taste aversions) and Preparedness (fears, etc.)?
  29. How did the “cognitive revolution” affect the study of the evolutionary basis/adaptations for behavior, according to Buss?

 

 

 

 

 

Buss, Evolutionary Psychology, 3rd edition

Chapter 2 Study Guide

 

  1. Describe examples of adaptive function and links between biology and behavior.
  2. What are creationism and intelligent design?  What is the seeding theory?  Why are these approaches not scientific?  Compare these to evolution by natural selection.   We will talk only about evolution by natural selection in this class, why?
  3. Distinguish adaptations, by-products and random effects/noise.  What are spandrels?
  4. What is the environment of evolutionary adaptedness?  What would be the EEA for most human behavior?
  5. Compare the levels of analysis used in EP- see table on page 43. Why are all three levels useful?
  6. Compare top down (deductive) and bottom up (inductive) strategies.
  7. Be familiar with the Waist-to-hip ratio example on p. 48.
  8. Be familiar with the section on human nature and the definition of an evolved psychological mechanism (pp. 49-59).  Be able to describe what Buss means by an evolved psychological mechanism.  I will not be detailed in testing this section.
  9. Methods:  what are the main ways that we collect data in EP?  Methods and Sources of data.  What are advantages and disadvantages of each?
  10. Be able to describe the types of “adaptive problems” that humans face.  How do data sources described on pp. 66-68 help us understand more about how human behavior evolved?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Buss, Evolutionary Psychology, 3rd edition

Chapter 13 Study Guide

 

1.