Preview

Tma02

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1753 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Tma02
Outline the Processes Involved in Evolution and Discuss how Evolutionary Psychologists have Contributed to our Understanding of

Altruism as an Adaptive Behaviour

The book of Genesis states that God created life in an array of fixed species and it was not until the 19th Century, that paleontological discoveries started to cast doubt on creationism and Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution in On the Origin of the Species (Clegg, 2007, p.120). The two processes that are involved in evolution and the fundamental connections between the evolutionary process and behaviour, in particular that of altruism and whether it can be seen as an adaptive behaviour are considered here.

Evolution occurs due to two main processes: genetic variation and selection. A human being’s genetic make-up is created from 46 randomly selected chromosomes. The chromosomes are transmitted in equal measure from each parent. From this “mixing” (Clegg, 2007, p.117), these chromosomes will create the cells that become our body and our mind. We will likely inherit characteristics from both our parents, dependent on dominant and recessive alleles e.g. eye colour. Those cells known as neurons form part of our brains, our neural systems, these dictate our emotional characteristics such as our personality but also perform functions such as informing us that we need to find food or water.

Selection is split into two separate processes; natural selection and sexual selection. Natural selection is concentrated on survival and sexual selection is based on the need to reproduce.

Natural selection was first noted by Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution originates mainly from his observations of the Galapagos finch (Clegg, 2007) and how the species had evolved over time to best survive dependent on their environments. Darwin’s theory considers that each and every species is subject to change, evolving to better suit their



Bibliography: Clegg, A, (2007) Evolutionary Psychology. In D. Miell, A. Phoenix, & K. Thomas (Eds.), Mapping Psychology (2nd ed., pp. 105-165). Milton Keynes: The Open University Littleton, K, Toates, F and Braisby, N (2007) Three Approaches to Learning. In D. Miell, A. Phoenix, & K. Thomas (Eds.), Mapping Psychology (2nd ed., pp. 167-224). Milton Keynes: The Open University Toates, F (2007) Biological Processes and Psychological Explanation. In D. Miell, A. Phoenix, & K. Thomas (Eds.), Mapping Psychology (2nd ed., pp. 225-289). Milton Keynes: The Open University Thomas, K (2007) The Individual Differences Approach to Personality. In D. Miell, A. Phoenix, & K. Thomas (Eds.), Mapping Psychology (2nd ed., pp. 291-347). Milton Keynes: The Open University The Course Team (2007) Correlational Studies and Experiments. In The Course Team (Eds.), Exploring Psychological Research Methods (1st ed., pp. 43-76). Milton Keynes: The Open University EPOCH - http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/file.php/2850/kmap/1183374514/epoch.html

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Morris, C. and Maisto, A. (2005). Psychology: An Introduction, Twelfth Edition. Prentice-Hall, Pearson Education, Inc.…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Case of Phineas Gage

    • 1088 Words
    • 5 Pages

    References: Toates, F. (2007). Biological processes and psychological explanation. In D. Miell, A. Phoenix, & K. Thomas (Eds), Mapping Psychology (2nd ed., pp. 225-280). Milton Keynes: The Open University.…

    • 1088 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Salem Witch Trials

    • 925 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Lawson, R., Graham, J., & Baker, K. (2007). Biological Foundations in Psychology. In A History of…

    • 925 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Evolution study guide

    • 798 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Natural selection is the process by which organisms with variations most suited to their local environment survive and leave more offspring. Natural selection “drives” evolution.…

    • 798 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    US History

    • 726 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Natural selection is a mechanism for the evolution of a population to become better adapted to their local environment over many generations. As we explore how natural selection works, pay attention some of its main principles: variation, overpopulation, adaptation, and descent with modifications.…

    • 726 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Altruism has proven over the years to not only be an extremely hard characteristic to explain but to also define. Whether it is from a biological view, which was constantly challenged from Darwin to the present day, or from a psychological stance where we consider peoples’ motives for such behaviour. Either way it remains an elusive topic where evolutionists have tried desperately to fill all holes that might challenge their theory even though there are countless examples of human behaviour that fail to match up with the latest explanations of why this selfless trait still exists. Firstly we will discuss the development of theories followed by the effectiveness it has at integrating into modern day altruistic behaviour.…

    • 2405 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The process of natural selection has given us an insight on how life has evolved over time. Charles Darwin came up with the theory of natural selection and is his most famous and well known theory. Natural selection is the process of species forming different characteristics to be able to adapt to different environmental changes in their habitat. Because of natural selection more species are able to have a better chance of survival in their habitats and produce more offspring than other species that do not go through these changes that take place. Natural selection will most commonly occur because of changes in climate, predators, or competition for food and mating.…

    • 428 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    HW1-Be an anthropologist

    • 806 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Natural Selection is an evolutionary change based off the differential reproductive success of individuals within a species (Futuyma, 2004). I believe Darwin’s theory of natural…

    • 806 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Explain, with examples, how the processes of natural selection and sexual selection are thought to have contributed to modern-day human behaviour.…

    • 1153 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Harpending, H., and Cochran, G. (2002). In our genes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 99, 10–12.…

    • 13417 Words
    • 54 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Natural selection, the differential survival and reproduction of individuals was first proposed by Darwin as the mechanism of for evolution. Although other factors have since been found to be involved in evolution, selection is still considered an important mechanism. Natural selection is based on the observation that individuals with certain heritable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than those lacking those advantageous traits. Thus, the population of those organisms with these advantageous traits will increase in the next generation.…

    • 1211 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Stress in Workplace

    • 1735 Words
    • 7 Pages

    References: Carlson, N; Martin, G.N. ; Buskist, W. ( 2004 ) Psychology. Great Britain: Pearson Education Limited…

    • 1735 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    ksjsj

    • 358 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Natural Selection means the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. The theory of its action was first fully expounded by Charles Darwin, and it is now regarded as be the main process that brings about evolution.…

    • 358 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Natural selection is most easily described by how a species survives because of traits dictated by their surroundings. An example of this is an animal of prey that can run faster than its heard, will escape a predator and live to breed in the future. The offspring will have the genes of a fast parent and likely be fast themselves therefore able to outrun the predator as well.…

    • 522 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ib Work

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Citation: “Evolutionary Psychology: An Introduction, Second Edition” by Lance Workman and Will Reader. Cambridge University Press. Printed in 2004, 2nd edition in 2008 in the UK. Published in NYC.…

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays