Understanding the human mind and behavior through an evolutionary lens.
Here's a breakdown of what that means:
* Evolutionary Perspective: Evolutionary psychologists believe that our minds and behaviors are shaped by the same evolutionary processes that have shaped all living things. Natural selection favors traits that increase survival and reproduction, so over time, those traits become more common.
* Adaptive Mechanisms: They study how our minds have evolved to solve problems that were crucial for our ancestors' survival, such as finding food, avoiding predators, and forming social bonds. These "adaptive mechanisms" are often subconscious and influence our thoughts, emotions, and actions.
* Modern Applications: Evolutionary psychology seeks to apply this understanding to contemporary human behavior, exploring topics like:
* Why we experience certain emotions
* Why we engage in particular social behaviors
* Why we have certain mating preferences
* How our cognitive biases might influence our decisions
Key Features of Evolutionary Psychology:
* Cross-Cultural Universality: They look for common patterns in human behavior across cultures, suggesting these behaviors have an evolutionary basis.
* The "Why" Question: While other branches of psychology might focus on "how" the mind works, evolutionary psychology delves into the "why" behind our mental and behavioral traits.
* Emphasis on Adaptation: It emphasizes how our minds and behaviors have been shaped by the need to adapt to our environment and increase our chances of survival and reproduction.
It's important to note: Evolutionary psychology is a complex and controversial field, and its findings are often debated. Some critics argue that its explanations can be deterministic or that it oversimplifies human behavior.