What do evolutionary researchers believe about human psychology and behavior? 🧵
Survey of Evolutionary Scholars (n = 581).
58% psychologists, 18% anthropologists, 6% biologists. 58% tenure track facility. 61% men.
58% psychologists, 18% anthropologists, 6% biologists. 58% tenure track facility. 61% men.
Here are the survey items. I'll go through some of these one by one, because there is also an associated review with each topic in the introduction.
These are items that there is either some debate or controversy around, or that there may have been some debate on in the past.
These are items that there is either some debate or controversy around, or that there may have been some debate on in the past.
"The human mind consists of domain-specific, context-sensitive modules."
This is the question of modularity. Has the mind evolved for very specific tasks, for example "cheater detection," or is it a function of more broad features working together (eg perception).
This is the question of modularity. Has the mind evolved for very specific tasks, for example "cheater detection," or is it a function of more broad features working together (eg perception).
"Developmental environments substantially shape human adult psychology and behavior."
The "nurture " part of the "nature vs nurture " debate. Notably, few psychologists believe that environment has no role at all. The question is always one of degree - how much.
The "nurture " part of the "nature vs nurture " debate. Notably, few psychologists believe that environment has no role at all. The question is always one of degree - how much.
"Group-level selection has substantially contributed to human evolution."
Group selection. Although seemingly intuitive, most evolutionary biologists are skeptical of group selection.
Evolution instead is seen as working on the level of the gene, not the group.
Group selection. Although seemingly intuitive, most evolutionary biologists are skeptical of group selection.
Evolution instead is seen as working on the level of the gene, not the group.
"Behavioral and cognitive aspects of human life history vary along a unified fast-slow continuum."
Fast/slow or r/K strategists. Based in behavioral differences across animal species (the fast life strategy of a rabbit vs the slow of an elephant).
Does it apply to individuals?
Fast/slow or r/K strategists. Based in behavioral differences across animal species (the fast life strategy of a rabbit vs the slow of an elephant).
Does it apply to individuals?
"Are there sex differences from sexual selection."
Evolved behavioral and social sex differences.
Evolved behavioral and social sex differences.
"Individual differences from different genotypes."
The genetic contributions to behavior and personality.
The genetic contributions to behavior and personality.
"Population differences from different ancestral ecologies/environments."
Differences in behavior and personality across different groups or populations of human beings.
Differences in behavior and personality across different groups or populations of human beings.
"Within-person differences across the menstrual cycle."
Those are the questions that were asked and those excerpts from the introduction will give you an idea of what kind of debates, research or agreement may exist on those topics.
Results in the following Tweets.
Results in the following Tweets.
92% believed that developmental environments substantially shape human adult psychology and behavior.
Not surprising, it has been rare that anyone has ever claimed it didn't. Perhaps one of the misconceptions about evolutionary psychology - that it is genetically deterministic.
Not surprising, it has been rare that anyone has ever claimed it didn't. Perhaps one of the misconceptions about evolutionary psychology - that it is genetically deterministic.
62% supported the modular model of the mind - that the mind consists of domain-specific, context-sensitive modules.
"Half of participants believed that behavioral and cognitive aspects of human life history vary along a unified fast-slow continuum."
Fast/slow life strategy or r/K applied to human individuals.
Fast/slow life strategy or r/K applied to human individuals.
"Two-fifths of participants believed that group-level selection has substantially contributed to human evolution."
The group selection controversy. Most don't believe it.
The group selection controversy. Most don't believe it.
"Differences in human psychology and behavior based on sex differences from sexual selection."
95% said yes.
95% said yes.
"Population differences resulting from distinct ancestral ecologies/environments."
"Within-person differences across the menstrual cycle."
74% and 72% said yes.
14% and 21% said don't know.
Remainders said no.
"Within-person differences across the menstrual cycle."
74% and 72% said yes.
14% and 21% said don't know.
Remainders said no.
Here are some charts of the results above:
There were some differences between psychologists and anthropologists as well.
Psychologists were more likely to believe:
1. Fast/slow r/K life strategies in individuals.
2. Domain-specific modular mind.
3. Differences in behavior across the mensural cycle.
Psychologists were more likely to believe:
1. Fast/slow r/K life strategies in individuals.
2. Domain-specific modular mind.
3. Differences in behavior across the mensural cycle.
Age effect on two items as well.
Younger participants were more likely to believe that developmental environments shape human psychology and in differences across the mensural cycle.
Younger participants were more likely to believe that developmental environments shape human psychology and in differences across the mensural cycle.
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