AMITY UNIVERSITY UTTAR PRADESH

AMITY INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION

Course Name - Spiritual And Cultural Development Of

Learners

Course Code - EDU244

Topic - Evolutionary Psychology

AMITY UNIVERSITY

Presented To- Presented By-

Dr. Prof Mala Tandon Shalu Ojha
HOD Neha Kumari
AIEL B.Ed 1st Semester
Batch No - 2023 -25
 EVOLUTION

Evolution is a process witnessed in living entities wherein gradual

changes are observed in the characteristics of species over generations
attributed to the process of natural selection. Charles Darwin was the
first person who observed the process and formulated the scientific
theory of evolution.

Evolution is a process of gradual change that takes place over many

generations, during which species of animals, plants, or insects slowly
change some of their physical characteristics.
 Pshychology

 Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior.

Psychologists are actively involved in studying and understanding
mental processes, brain functions, and behavior.

 Psychologists actively study and understand human cognitive

processes, brain functions, and behavior.

 The word psychology was formed by combining the Greek psyche

(meaning “breath, the principle of life, life, soul”) with -logia (which
comes from the Greek logos, indicating “speech, word, reason”).

 Psychology commenced as a discipline in 1879 when the first

psychology lab was established at the University of Leipzig in
German.
Evoloutinary
Psychology
•Evolutionary psychology is a theoretical
approach in psychology that examines
cognition and behavior from a modern
evolutionary perspective. It seeks to
identify human psychological
adaptations with regards to the ancestral
problems they evolved to solve.

•Evolutionary psychology adds ancestral

traits to the equation. The evolutionary
theory says that the habits and cognitive
traits that helped your ancestors survive
have likely been passed down through
the generations until making their way to
you.
 Six Core Principles Of Evolutionary Pshycology

The discipline of evolutionary psychology was founded on six core principles that combine a traditional
understanding of psychology, along with evolutionary biology ideas of how the brain functions. These
principles are as follows:​​

1.The human brain's purpose is to process information, and in doing so, it produces responses to both external
and internal stimuli.

2.The human brain adapted and has undergone both natural and sexual selection.

3.The parts of the human brain are specialized to solve problems that occurred over evolutionary time.

4.Modern humans have brains that evolved after problems recurred repeatedly over long periods of time.

5.Most of the human brain's functions are done unconsciously. Even problems that seem easy to solve require
very intricate neural responses at an unconscious level.

6.Many very specialized mechanisms make up the whole of human psychology. All of these mechanisms
together create human nature.
 Theories And Methods of Evolutionary
PSYCHOLOGY
In 2005, Tooby and Cosmides compiled a list of basic tenets for the field of evolutionary
psychology.

 The brain is essentially a computer that natural selection has designed to obtain input
from its surroundings. For example, early humans learned which snakes were poisonous
by being harmed by them. The identification of poisonous snakes was remembered and
passed down to future generations.

 Human behavior is controlled by this computer/brain. This refers to the brain's role as
the information and neurological control center for our bodies. For example, our brain
tells us not to handle poisonous snakes.
  The cognitive programs in the brain are the result of adaptations from ancestral
behaviors that promoted survival and reproduction. For example, as the ability to
recognize poisonous snakes was passed down through generations, evolutionary
psychology theory says that our brains adapted to include instinctual fear and
caution around snakes.

 The cognitive programs in the brain are not necessarily as beneficial for survival and reproduction now as
they were for our ancestors. For example, far fewer humans today interact with snakes regularly than in
ancient times, making this survival skill less significant than it once was.

 Natural selection results in human brains that contain multiple programs with varying purposes. The
identification of poisonous snakes, for example, was input that led to adaptations for avoiding harm. Other
adaptations developed for different purposes, such as the desire for high-calorie foods to meet the high-
energy demands of a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
 The evolved nature of the brain provides insight and explanation for human social, emotional, and cultural
behaviors. For example, evolutionary psychology theory claims that all human behaviors, emotions, choices,
actions, and thoughts can be explained through the perspective of adaptive evolution.
 HUMAN NATURE

 Evolutionary psychology is well suited to providing an account of human nature. Evolutionary psychology
owes a theoretical debt to human sociobiology. Evolutionary psychologists argue that human nature is not
a collection of universal human behavioral repertoires but rather the universal psychological mechanisms
underlying these behaviors (Tooby and Cosmides 1990). These universal psychological mechanisms are
products of natural selection.

 Tooby and Cosmides put this claim as follows: “the concept of human nature is based on a species-typical
collection of complex psychological adaptations”. So, for evolutionary psychologists, “human nature
consists of a set of psychological adaptations that are presumed to be universal among, and unique to,
human beings” (Buller 2005, 423). Machery’s nomological account of human nature is based on, and very
similar to, the evolutionary psychologists’ account.
 Some critical challenges to evolutionary psychological accounts of human nature (and the nomological
account) derive from similar concerns as those driving criticism of evolutionary psychology in general.
We see that discussions of evolutionary psychology are founded on disagreements about how
adaptation should be characterized and disagreements about the role of variation in evolution. Some
critics charge evolutionary psychologists of assuming that adaptation cannot sustain variation.

 Buller’s (2005) criticism of evolutionary psychologists’ account of human nature also invokes
variation . The idea here is that humans, like all organisms, exhibit a great deal of variation,
including morphological, physiological, behavioral and cultural variation . Buller argues that the
evolutionary psychology account of human nature either ignores or fails to account for all of this
variation. Any account that restricts human nature to just those traits we have in common, and
which also are not subject to change, cannot account for human variation .
 How to Evolve as a Person

Evolving as a person is not easy. It takes time, effort, and dedication. But it is possible for anyone who is willing
to put in the work. Here are a few tips on how to evolve as a person:

1.Set your priorities. What is most important to you in life? Once you know your priorities, you can start
making decisions that will help you achieve them.

2.Give extra time to your priorities. Don’t just say that your priorities are important. Make sure you are
actually giving them the time and attention they deserve.

3.Work for your personal growth along with your professional growth. Don’t just focus on your career. Make
sure you are also working on your personal growth. This could include things like learning new skills, reading
books, or traveling.

4.Realize that the ‘Self’ is the product of evolution. We are all shaped by our genes and our environment.
Understanding how these factors have influenced us can help us to understand ourselves better.

5.Take out extra time for change. Change is not always easy, but it is necessary for growth. Make sure you
are giving yourself the time and space to change.
 Conclusion

Evolutionary psychology unveils the origins of self-knowledge, highlighting the remarkable cognitive and
psychological mechanisms that enable humans to understand their own mental lives. To embark on a journey
of personal evolution, it is crucial to set priorities, invest time in personal growth, maintain a balance between
personal and professional development, recognize the influence of evolution on the self, and create space for
change. By embracing these principles, you can embark on a transformative path of personal growth,
continuously evolving as an individual and unlocking your true potential. Remember, personal evolution is a
lifelong process that requires dedication, self-reflection, and a willingness to embrace change.
Thank
You