Assess the impact of evolutionary thought on psychology. Illustrate your answer with examples of relevant research.
The notion of evolution, as described by both Lamarck and Darwin in the 1800’s, had such an impact on intellectual life that it has changed the way we study the human mind today. Darwin’s (1859) theory is still widely accepted as what we know as the theory of natural selection, and provides a structure for examining human behaviour. He saw the future of psychology as “based on a new foundation”, and evolutionary psychology is now still emerging and developing. Darwinian evolution means we can ask how each aspect of human nature is adaptive as it allows many approaches to be covered by one theory, and provides a “theoretical framework” …show more content…
On the other hand, ecological psychologists suggest that it is not ‘what’s inside the head’ but ‘what’s the head inside of’. J. J. Gibson (1977) found that perception and action evolve with the environment; therefore they should be studied together. However, Descartes made an ontological distinction between mind and matter, explaining that mind doesn’t occupy space while matter does. Neisser’s (1967) perceptual cycle describes evolution as “the accumulation of adaptations, organisms and niches mutually evolved and linked by affordances” (what the environment allows you to do), which associate action and …show more content…
Darwin established one of evolutionary psychology’s most important ideas, which continues to influence how we view our behaviour and mental abilities, as well as those of other animals (Montgomery, 2001). It also allows us to discover how behavioural traits such as phobias and mate retention strategies have evolved, even if they are not adaptive today. The mind is now evolving culturally rather than biologically by imitation of memes. Archer (2001) argues that even the theory of evolution itself evolves and has emerged over the past centuries. Although it is widely accepted, it is un-falsifiable and some previously rejected theories such as Lamarckism could be returning. Like any scientific theory, evolution is open to
The notion of evolution, as described by both Lamarck and Darwin in the 1800’s, had such an impact on intellectual life that it has changed the way we study the human mind today. Darwin’s (1859) theory is still widely accepted as what we know as the theory of natural selection, and provides a structure for examining human behaviour. He saw the future of psychology as “based on a new foundation”, and evolutionary psychology is now still emerging and developing. Darwinian evolution means we can ask how each aspect of human nature is adaptive as it allows many approaches to be covered by one theory, and provides a “theoretical framework” …show more content…
On the other hand, ecological psychologists suggest that it is not ‘what’s inside the head’ but ‘what’s the head inside of’. J. J. Gibson (1977) found that perception and action evolve with the environment; therefore they should be studied together. However, Descartes made an ontological distinction between mind and matter, explaining that mind doesn’t occupy space while matter does. Neisser’s (1967) perceptual cycle describes evolution as “the accumulation of adaptations, organisms and niches mutually evolved and linked by affordances” (what the environment allows you to do), which associate action and …show more content…
Darwin established one of evolutionary psychology’s most important ideas, which continues to influence how we view our behaviour and mental abilities, as well as those of other animals (Montgomery, 2001). It also allows us to discover how behavioural traits such as phobias and mate retention strategies have evolved, even if they are not adaptive today. The mind is now evolving culturally rather than biologically by imitation of memes. Archer (2001) argues that even the theory of evolution itself evolves and has emerged over the past centuries. Although it is widely accepted, it is un-falsifiable and some previously rejected theories such as Lamarckism could be returning. Like any scientific theory, evolution is open to