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.