You are on page 1of 5

Examine one evolutionary explanation of behavior

Evolution is based on the principle of biological


approach that patterns of behavior can be inherited.
Evolution is the process of changing inherited traits of a
species over time for survival purposes. Evolutionary
psychology is at the biological level of analysis and
seeks to explain all behavior by evolutionary mean.
Charles Darwin, famously known as the father of
evolutionary psychology, proposed the theory of
evolution. Darwin suggested that those who adapt best
to environmental challenges will have a greater chance
of survival. Thus, reproduction, and passing on
genes. Natural selection refers to the idea that
members of a species that dominate competition and
reproduce will have characteristics better suited to the
environment and are more likely to pass on these traits.
This results in successive generations of a species
developing characteristics that make it more
competitive in its field of adaptation. It is assumed that
a predisposition for certain behaviors is inherited
through genetics, and that the principles of evolution
dictates that genetically based behavior of an individual
is passed on. Therefore, behaviors observed in the
present should have an evolutionary explanation. If
behavior exists in humans at present, then it must have
in the past, and helped in human survival and
reproduction. The key assumption of all evolutionary
psychological research is that human behavior must
have been adaptive under certain circumstances in the
past.
In this essay, the behavior will be examined in
terms of an evolutionary explanation, the studies will
focus on emotions, particularly in disgust. This is
connected to the study Fessler(2006). In the first
trimester of pregnancy, hormones lower women’s
immune systems so that it doesn’t fight the new genetic
material of the fetus. Fessler argues that the emotion of
disgust allowed our ancestors to survive long enough to
produce offspring, which is why we too have this
emotion. Fessler asked 496 healthy pregnant women
between ages 18–50 to rank 32 potentially disgusting
scenarios. For example, maggots on a piece of meat in
an outdoor waste bin. Before asking the women to rank
the level of disgust in the scenarios, Fessler asked
questions to determine whether the women were
experiencing morning sickness. Fessler found that
women in their first trimester scored higher in disgust
sensitivity than women in the second and third
trimesters. When Fessler controlled the study for
morning sickness, the response only applied to
scenarios involving food. Fessler explained that women
feel a higher level of disgust to protect themselves from
dangerous diseases, which are mostly food-
borne. Natural selection may have helped our ancestors
to be pickier with food to compensate for increased
susceptibility to disease. Being pickier with food also
helped humans avoid diseases that could harm the
unborn offspring, thus, threatening the
species. Fessler’s study supports that disgust may be an
evolutionary behavior as it may assist reproduction
and protection against diseases, thus having a greater
chance of survival. This study supports the role of
disgust in aiding reproduction, and thus, as an
evolutionary behavior.
In another study-Curtis et al.(2004) , Curtis tested
whether there were patterns in disgust responses via
an online survey. The study consisted of 77 000
participants from 165 countries. Participants were
asked to rank their level of disgust for 20 images. Out of
20 images, 7 pairs had one image that was infectious or
harmful to the immune system and the other was
similar but non-infectious. For example, one image was
a plate of bodily fluid, and its pair image was a plate of
blue viscous liquid. Results show that the disgust
reaction was strongest for images which were
potentially harmful to the immune system. Disgust also
decreased with age, and women had higher disgust
reactions than men. These findings suggest that disgust
is evolutionary. Natural selection may have helped
human ancestors to be more disgusted at things which
may have been potentially harmful to the immune
system, causing them to avoid things that could lead to
diseases or sickness. This would allow humans a better
chances of survival and reproduction to pass on their
genes. The decrease of disgust with age may be
explained by the fact that the older members of a
species are less likely to reproduce. Therefore, their
disgust reaction decreases. The stronger disgust
reaction of women may be the result of natural
selection and adaptation. As women are the carriers for
offspring, they have a stronger disgust reaction to
protect the lives of unborn offspring and consequently,
the species. This study supports the role of disgust in
aiding reproduction, and thus, as an evolutionary
behavior.
Darwin’s theory of evolution is based on the key
assumptions of natural selection. It proposes that those
who adapt best to environmental challenges will have
characteristics better suited to the environment and
are more likely to survive and pass on these traits.
Natural selection results in adaptation, meaning that
generations of a species that develop these
characteristics are more competitive in its field. There
is an evolutionary explanation for disgust. Fessler
(2006) showed that disgust may be an evolutionary
behavior as it may aids the reproduction of offspring
and compensates for a suppressed immune system.
Curtis et al. (2004) found that the disgust reaction may
help to prevent sicknesses, thus, increasing the chance
of survival. Both studies have a reductionist approach,
as behaviors are reduced down to one single factor.
Research suggests that disgust aids the survival and
reproduction of the human species. Therefore, disgust
is an evolutionary behavior.

You might also like