How Psychologist's Theory Of Mind Evolved Adaption
What do psychologists mean by theory of mind? Discuss the claim that theory of mind is an evolved adaption
This essay will be discussing the claim of what psychologists mean by theory of mind and the claim that it is an evolved adaption.
‘Theory of mind is essentially the ability of an individual to respond differently, according to assumptions about the beliefs and desires of another individual, rather than according only the others overt behaviour’ (Bryne and Whitten, cited in Clegg, 2007, p.133). In other words the theory of mind is a person studying another’s behaviour and characteristics to become a more attractive partner than others in society. Understanding another helps to gain information and knowledge and then applying these to themselves, essential to survival and reproductive …show more content…
success. It has evolved over many generations ‘’, the behaviours and characteristics studied and applied Gaining strong advantage other others.
This essay will be focusing on sexual selection and how it has evolved, looking at how peacocks chose their mate and individuals with autism.
Sexual selection is part of an evolutionary process and shows how we have evolved to adapt to the current environment better. Although the process occurs over a long time scale, the random changes of psychological and physical act to cope better, thus making it more likely to be handed down to the next generations and so on.
Psychologists claim that the theory of mind has evolved to improve advantage over others for success.
One way to back this would be to look at how peacocks chose their mate by sexual selection. ‘Sexual selection works by the individual differences in physical and psychological traits affecting access to the quantity and quality of mates available’ (Gangestad and Thornhill, cited in Clegg, 2007, p. 124). The more mates the peacocks attracts, the more success they will have with their offspring and quality of carer for the young which inherit the best physical and psychological traits increasing success. One mechanism for sexual selection is intersexual selection. This is where for example; a peacock will chose a mate for a characteristic or ability that mirrors the peacock’s quality. ‘For example the condition of the bird’s plumage, such as the peacock’s tail, may indicate its health in terms of disease resistance and parasite infestation’ (Clegg, 2007, p. 124). Those with better tails gain more mates than those without increasing success due to the peacock surviving longer for being able to fight off infections thus passing this ability off to the their
offspring.
However there are implications to those with better plumage, for example the length in tail could slow a peacock down when trying to escape a predator. ‘These costs stop birds with poorer disease resistance from ‘cheating’ ; if they were to replicate a good quality tail, then those mating with ‘cheating’ birds would have poor quality offspring who would be likely to be less reproductively successful’ (Clegg, 2007, p. 125).
An important part of sexual selection is parental investment defined as ‘any investment by the parent in an individual offspring that increases the offspring’s chance of surviving (and hence reproductive success) at the cost of the parents ability to invest in other offspring’ (Travers, cited in Clegg, 2007, p.139). By balancing having as many offspring as possible and using the best carer, they have more chance of reproductive success.
However there are implications to a male choosing his mate and producing the best offspring, not just by peacocks but humans as well. There are different methods and strategies used by both sexes. Female humans invest more and focus on long-term mates to support them and help them with the survival of their offspring, thus females gain more reproductive success by choosing a mate with adaptive behaviours and characteristics and ability to care for her and their offspring.
Although some males may desire a long-term relationship/mating, they tend to invest less by mating short-term with as many females as possible to gain as many offspring as possible. ‘This imbalance between the sexes means that those who invest less (usually males) can increase their reproductive success by attracting and mating with a greater number of those individuals who invest more (usually females)’ (Clegg, 2007, p. 126).
However although females are seen as the sex who invest more, some are known to invest and engage in short-term relationships/mating to gain access to support and resources as an adaptive strategy gaining insight and understanding as to whether a long-term relationship is their desire. ‘This demonstrates that adaptions evolve through sexual selections as well as through natural selections’ (Clegg, 2007, p.126).
Another topic on theory of mind is autism. ‘Baron-Cohen (1999) suggests that theory of mind is a necessary in the following types of social interaction; attempts to change the knowledge of another; repairing failed communication with others; teaching; intentionally persuading others; intentionally deceiving others; cooperating with others; intentionally sharing a focus or topic of attention; and pretending’ (Baron-Cohen, cited in Clegg, 2007, p. 139).
This claim was backed by findings on studies that had taken place. Many believe that people with autism lack theory of mind abilities due to them having difficulties with delay in language and social relationships thus failing at tasks. A meta-analysis demonstrated just this by finding that normal developed and learning disability children performed better at tasks than those with autism. However lack of theory of mind is not just unique to autism as findings also showed that normal children performed better than those with learning disabilities as well as autism. ‘Evidence from work carried out with children demonstrates that it is universal, thereby suggesting that it may be an evolved adaption’ (Clegg, 2007, p. 143).
To conclude the claim that the theory of mind is an evolved adaption can be explained in different ways. By writing about the ways peacocks chose their mate and the study of individuals with autism, we can see that theory of mind has evolved and adapted thus gaining the best chance of reproductive success, surviving and living in society. Those with a higher theory of mind improve their survival chances and success amongst others. ‘Research on children, non-human primates and those with autism suggests that theory of mind may have evolved because it enabled humans to interact in social situations that would benefit themselves and possibly their kin’ (Clegg, 2007, p. 143).
Although some psychologists see our identities as fixed, our theory of mind, behaviours, abilities and characteristics have changed and evolved over a large timescale adapting to the environment. ‘If a particular characteristic or ability is found universally, then this may suggest it is an evolved characteristic or ability’ (Clegg, 2007, p. 164).
Word count (1,068)
References
Clegg, H. (2007) ‘Evolutionary Psychology: Theory of mind’ in Miell, D., Phoenix, A. and Thomas, K. (eds) Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
Clegg, H. (2007) ‘Evolutionary Psychology: Evolutionary Processes’ in Miell, D., Phoenix, A. and Thomas, K. (eds) Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
Clegg, H. (2007) ‘Evolutionary Psychology: Commentary 2’ in Miell, D., Phoenix, A. and Thomas, K. (eds) Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
Miell, D., Phoenix, A. and Thomas, K. (eds) Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
This essay will be discussing the claim of what psychologists mean by theory of mind and the claim that it is an evolved adaption.
‘Theory of mind is essentially the ability of an individual to respond differently, according to assumptions about the beliefs and desires of another individual, rather than according only the others overt behaviour’ (Bryne and Whitten, cited in Clegg, 2007, p.133). In other words the theory of mind is a person studying another’s behaviour and characteristics to become a more attractive partner than others in society. Understanding another helps to gain information and knowledge and then applying these to themselves, essential to survival and reproductive …show more content…
success. It has evolved over many generations ‘’, the behaviours and characteristics studied and applied Gaining strong advantage other others.
This essay will be focusing on sexual selection and how it has evolved, looking at how peacocks chose their mate and individuals with autism.
Sexual selection is part of an evolutionary process and shows how we have evolved to adapt to the current environment better. Although the process occurs over a long time scale, the random changes of psychological and physical act to cope better, thus making it more likely to be handed down to the next generations and so on.
Psychologists claim that the theory of mind has evolved to improve advantage over others for success.
One way to back this would be to look at how peacocks chose their mate by sexual selection. ‘Sexual selection works by the individual differences in physical and psychological traits affecting access to the quantity and quality of mates available’ (Gangestad and Thornhill, cited in Clegg, 2007, p. 124). The more mates the peacocks attracts, the more success they will have with their offspring and quality of carer for the young which inherit the best physical and psychological traits increasing success. One mechanism for sexual selection is intersexual selection. This is where for example; a peacock will chose a mate for a characteristic or ability that mirrors the peacock’s quality. ‘For example the condition of the bird’s plumage, such as the peacock’s tail, may indicate its health in terms of disease resistance and parasite infestation’ (Clegg, 2007, p. 124). Those with better tails gain more mates than those without increasing success due to the peacock surviving longer for being able to fight off infections thus passing this ability off to the their
offspring.
However there are implications to those with better plumage, for example the length in tail could slow a peacock down when trying to escape a predator. ‘These costs stop birds with poorer disease resistance from ‘cheating’ ; if they were to replicate a good quality tail, then those mating with ‘cheating’ birds would have poor quality offspring who would be likely to be less reproductively successful’ (Clegg, 2007, p. 125).
An important part of sexual selection is parental investment defined as ‘any investment by the parent in an individual offspring that increases the offspring’s chance of surviving (and hence reproductive success) at the cost of the parents ability to invest in other offspring’ (Travers, cited in Clegg, 2007, p.139). By balancing having as many offspring as possible and using the best carer, they have more chance of reproductive success.
However there are implications to a male choosing his mate and producing the best offspring, not just by peacocks but humans as well. There are different methods and strategies used by both sexes. Female humans invest more and focus on long-term mates to support them and help them with the survival of their offspring, thus females gain more reproductive success by choosing a mate with adaptive behaviours and characteristics and ability to care for her and their offspring.
Although some males may desire a long-term relationship/mating, they tend to invest less by mating short-term with as many females as possible to gain as many offspring as possible. ‘This imbalance between the sexes means that those who invest less (usually males) can increase their reproductive success by attracting and mating with a greater number of those individuals who invest more (usually females)’ (Clegg, 2007, p. 126).
However although females are seen as the sex who invest more, some are known to invest and engage in short-term relationships/mating to gain access to support and resources as an adaptive strategy gaining insight and understanding as to whether a long-term relationship is their desire. ‘This demonstrates that adaptions evolve through sexual selections as well as through natural selections’ (Clegg, 2007, p.126).
Another topic on theory of mind is autism. ‘Baron-Cohen (1999) suggests that theory of mind is a necessary in the following types of social interaction; attempts to change the knowledge of another; repairing failed communication with others; teaching; intentionally persuading others; intentionally deceiving others; cooperating with others; intentionally sharing a focus or topic of attention; and pretending’ (Baron-Cohen, cited in Clegg, 2007, p. 139).
This claim was backed by findings on studies that had taken place. Many believe that people with autism lack theory of mind abilities due to them having difficulties with delay in language and social relationships thus failing at tasks. A meta-analysis demonstrated just this by finding that normal developed and learning disability children performed better at tasks than those with autism. However lack of theory of mind is not just unique to autism as findings also showed that normal children performed better than those with learning disabilities as well as autism. ‘Evidence from work carried out with children demonstrates that it is universal, thereby suggesting that it may be an evolved adaption’ (Clegg, 2007, p. 143).
To conclude the claim that the theory of mind is an evolved adaption can be explained in different ways. By writing about the ways peacocks chose their mate and the study of individuals with autism, we can see that theory of mind has evolved and adapted thus gaining the best chance of reproductive success, surviving and living in society. Those with a higher theory of mind improve their survival chances and success amongst others. ‘Research on children, non-human primates and those with autism suggests that theory of mind may have evolved because it enabled humans to interact in social situations that would benefit themselves and possibly their kin’ (Clegg, 2007, p. 143).
Although some psychologists see our identities as fixed, our theory of mind, behaviours, abilities and characteristics have changed and evolved over a large timescale adapting to the environment. ‘If a particular characteristic or ability is found universally, then this may suggest it is an evolved characteristic or ability’ (Clegg, 2007, p. 164).
Word count (1,068)
References
Clegg, H. (2007) ‘Evolutionary Psychology: Theory of mind’ in Miell, D., Phoenix, A. and Thomas, K. (eds) Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
Clegg, H. (2007) ‘Evolutionary Psychology: Evolutionary Processes’ in Miell, D., Phoenix, A. and Thomas, K. (eds) Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
Clegg, H. (2007) ‘Evolutionary Psychology: Commentary 2’ in Miell, D., Phoenix, A. and Thomas, K. (eds) Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
Miell, D., Phoenix, A. and Thomas, K. (eds) Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.