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Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychology. Examine on evolutionary explanation of behavior. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. Based on the assumption that living organisms face environmental challenges. Organisms that adapt the best have a greater chance of passing there genes to the next generations.

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Evolutionary Psychology

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  1. Evolutionary Psychology

  2. Examine on evolutionary explanation of behavior.

  3. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution • Based on the assumption that living organisms face environmental challenges. • Organisms that adapt the best have a greater chance of passing there genes to the next generations.

  4. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution • Organisms with specific genetic traits that enhance survival are said to be naturally selected. • They are more likely to survive and pass those traits on. • Many of the traits that you have been passed down to you to help you survive.

  5. Disgust in Pregnant Women • Nausea and loss of appetite may have been evolved as a way to protect the mother and the fetus against diseases which could threaten the fetus. • Disgust has evolved as food rejection response to prevent contamination and the spread of illness

  6. Fessler et al (2005)Elevated disgust sensitivity in the first trimester or pregnancy Aim: • To investigate if disgust sensitivity in the first trimester of pregnancy was elevated as predicted.

  7. Fessler et al (2005)Elevated disgust sensitivity in the first trimester or pregnancy Procedure: • A web based survey was completed by 691 women recruited through pregnancy related web sites. • No compensation was offered. • The women’s mean age was 28.1 years.

  8. Fessler et al (2005)Elevated disgust sensitivity in the first trimester or pregnancy Procedure: • On the questionnaire the participants: • Indicated current level of nausea on a 16 point scale • Answered questions to discuss their disgust sensitivity in 8 areas (food, contact with animals, dead animals, hygiene, toilets etc..)

  9. Fessler et al (2005)Elevated disgust sensitivity in the first trimester or pregnancy Results • Overall, sensitivity for food and body products was higher in 1st trimester compared to 2nd and 3rd. • Disgust was highest with food (as was predicted).

  10. Fessler et al (2005)Elevated disgust sensitivity in the first trimester or pregnancy Results: • Food-borne diereses are particularly dangerous for women in the 1st trimester, so it was predicted that the sensitively would be high (they were right). • The results may indicate that nausea and vomiting are evolved behaviors because they limit the likelihood of a pregnant woman eat dangerous food.

  11. Fessler et al (2005)Elevated disgust sensitivity in the first trimester or pregnancy Evaluation: • The data was collected through questionnaires. Self reports may not be a great way of measuring disgust. • It would have been better to confront them with real disgust-eliciting objects. • The effect was big (but not hugely significant). • Curtiss et al (2004) showed that images that threaten the immune system are judged as more disgusting.

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