Evolutionary Theory Of Personality
Expert-defined terms from the Evolutionary psychology and social psychology course at LearnUNI. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Adaptation refers to the process by which an organism becomes better suited to i… #
Related terms include natural selection and fitness, which are fundamental concepts in understanding how adaptations emerge and become fixed in a population. For example, the evolution of the human eye is an adaptation that has enhanced our ability to detect and respond to environmental stimuli, ultimately increasing our chances of survival and reproduction.
Altruism is a behavior that benefits others at a personal cost, and in the conte… #
However, altruism can be explained by the concept of inclusive fitness, which suggests that helping relatives can increase the chances of passing on one's genes to future generations. Related terms include kin selection and reciprocal altruism, which provide alternative explanations for the evolution of altruistic behaviors. For instance, the willingness to sacrifice oneself for the benefit of family members or close friends can be seen as an example of altruism that has evolved to promote the survival and reproductive success of one's genetic relatives.
Attachment theory refers to the idea that the way we form close relationships wi… #
Related terms include secure attachment and anxious attachment, which describe different patterns of attachment that have been observed in humans and other animals. For example, a secure attachment style is associated with better mental and physical health, as well as increased reproductive success, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Brain structure and function refer to the physical and functional characteristic… #
Related terms include neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, which describe the brain's ability to reorganize and adapt in response to experience and learning. For instance, the evolution of the human brain's prefrontal cortex is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cognitive abilities, such as language and problem-solving.
Cognitive biases refer to systematic errors in thinking and decision #
making, and in the context of Evolutionary Theory of personality, they are used to explain how biases have evolved to promote survival and reproductive success. Related terms include heuristics and fast and frugal trees, which describe mental shortcuts that can lead to biased decision-making. For example, the availability heuristic is a cognitive bias that leads people to overestimate the importance of vivid or memorable events, and is thought to have evolved to promote caution and risk-avoidance in the face of uncertainty.
Cooperation refers to the behavior of working together with others to achieve a… #
However, cooperation can be explained by the concept of reciprocal altruism, which suggests that helping others can increase the chances of receiving help in return. Related terms include mutualism and group selection, which provide alternative explanations for the evolution of cooperative behaviors. For instance, the evolution of cooperative breeding in some species, where individuals help to care for each other's offspring, is thought to have promoted the survival and reproductive success of the group as a whole.
Cultural evolution refers to the process by which cultural traits and practices… #
Related terms include memetics and gene-culture coevolution, which describe the interaction between genetic and cultural evolution. For example, the evolution of language is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Developmental psychology refers to the study of human development across the lif… #
Related terms include ontogeny and phylogeny, which describe the development of individuals and species over time. For instance, the evolution of childhood is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cognitive abilities, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Emotions refer to complex psychological and physiological states that have evolv… #
Related terms include emotional intelligence and affect regulation, which describe the ability to recognize and manage emotions in oneself and others. For example, the evolution of fear is thought to have played a key role in the development of avoidance behaviors and risk-avoidance, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human survival.
Evolutionary game theory refers to the study of how behaviors evolve in response… #
Related terms include game theory and prisoner's dilemma, which describe the strategic interactions between individuals and groups. For instance, the evolution of cooperation is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Fitness refers to the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in a giv… #
Related terms include inclusive fitness and reproductive success, which describe the ability of an individual to pass on their genes to future generations. For example, the evolution of intelligence is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cognitive abilities, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human fitness.
Genetics refers to the study of heredity and variation, and in the context of <b… #
Related terms include genotype and phenotype, which describe the genetic and physical characteristics of an individual. For instance, the evolution of genetic variation is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Group selection refers to the idea that groups with certain traits or characteri… #
Related terms include multilevel selection and gene-culture coevolution, which describe the interaction between genetic and cultural evolution. For example, the evolution of cooperative breeding in some species is thought to have promoted the survival and reproductive success of the group as a whole, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Human nature refers to the characteristics and traits that are typical of humans… #
Related terms include human universals and cultural relativism, which describe the commonalities and differences between human cultures. For instance, the evolution of language is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Inclusive fitness refers to the idea that an individual's fitness is not just de… #
For example, the willingness to sacrifice oneself for the benefit of family members or close friends can be seen as an example of altruism that has evolved to promote the survival and reproductive success of one's genetic relatives.
Intelligence refers to the ability to learn, reason, and adapt to new situations… #
Related terms include cognitive ability and problem-solving, which describe the ability to recognize and respond to environmental challenges. For instance, the evolution of human intelligence is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Intrasexual competition refers to the competition between members of the same se… #
Related terms include intersexual selection and mate choice, which describe the processes by which individuals choose their mates. For example, the evolution of male competition for access to females is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Kin selection refers to the idea that individuals are more likely to help their… #
Related terms include inclusive fitness and reciprocal altruism, which provide alternative explanations for the evolution of altruistic behaviors.
Learning refers to the process by which individuals acquire new knowledge and sk… #
Related terms include conditioning and social learning, which describe the processes by which individuals learn from their environment and others.
Mate choice refers to the process by which individuals choose their mates, and i… #
Related terms include intersexual selection and intrasexual competition, which describe the processes by which individuals compete for access to mates. For instance, the evolution of female choice for males with certain traits, such as high status or good genes, is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Memory refers to the ability to store and retrieve information, and in the conte… #
Related terms include learning and conditioning, which describe the processes by which individuals acquire new knowledge and skills. For example, the evolution of episodic memory is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Mental health refers to the state of well #
being and functioning of an individual's mind, and in the context of Evolutionary Psychology, it is used to explain how mental health has evolved to promote survival and reproductive success. Related terms include psychopathology and evolutionary psychiatry, which describe the study of mental disorders and their evolution. For instance, the evolution of anxiety is thought to have played a key role in the development of avoidance behaviors and risk-avoidance, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human survival.
Migration refers to the movement of individuals or groups from one place to anot… #
Related terms include gene flow and population dynamics, which describe the movement of genes and individuals between populations. For example, the evolution of human migration is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Morality refers to the set of principles and values that guide human behavior, a… #
Related terms include ethics and altruism, which describe the study of moral principles and the behavior of helping others.
Natural selection refers to the process by which individuals with certain traits… #
Related terms include adaptation and fitness, which describe the process by which individuals become better suited to their environment.
Neuroscience refers to the study of the structure and function of the brain and… #
Neuroscience refers to the study of the structure and function of the brain and nervous system, and in the context of Evolutionary Psychology, it is used to explain how the brain has evolved to support human behavior and cognition.
Personality refers to the set of characteristics and traits that define an indiv… #
Related terms include temperature and character, which describe the different aspects of personality. For example, the evolution of extroversion is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Psychology refers to the study of human behavior and cognition, and in the conte… #
Related terms include evolutionary psychology and behavioral ecology, which describe the study of human behavior and ecology from an evolutionary perspective. For instance, the evolution of human behavior is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Reproductive success refers to the ability of an individual to produce offspring… #
Related terms include fitness and inclusive fitness, which describe the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in a given environment. For example, the evolution of intelligence is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cognitive abilities, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human reproductive success.
Selfish gene theory refers to the idea that genes are the primary unit of select… #
Related terms include inclusive fitness and kin selection, which describe the ability of an individual to promote the survival and reproductive success of their genetic relatives. For instance, the evolution of altruism is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Sexual selection refers to the process by which individuals choose their mates b… #
Related terms include mate choice and intrasexual competition, which describe the processes by which individuals compete for access to mates.
Social learning refers to the process by which individuals learn from others, an… #
Related terms include conditioning and learning, which describe the processes by which individuals acquire new knowledge and skills.
Social psychology refers to the study of how individuals think, feel, and behave… #
For example, the evolution of cooperation is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Sociobiology refers to the study of the evolution of social behavior, and in the… #
For instance, the evolution of human social behavior is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Species refers to a group of individuals that can interbreed and produce fertile… #
Related terms include taxonomy and phylogeny, which describe the classification and evolution of species. For example, the evolution of Homo sapiens is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Status refers to the social position or rank of an individual within a group, an… #
Related terms include dominance and submission, which describe the processes by which individuals establish and maintain their social position. For instance, the evolution of male status is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Survival refers to the ability of an individual to stay alive and avoid death, a… #
Related terms include fitness and reproductive success, which describe the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in a given environment. For example, the evolution of intelligence is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cognitive abilities, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human survival.
Twin studies refer to the study of the behavior and cognition of twins, and in t… #
Related terms include genetics and epigenetics, which describe the study of the genetic and environmental factors that influence human behavior and cognition. For instance, the evolution of twin behavior is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Variation refers to the differences that exist between individuals or groups, an… #
Related terms include genetic variation and phenotypic variation, which describe the differences that exist between individuals or groups at the genetic and physical levels. For example, the evolution of human variation is thought to have played a key role in the development of complex social behaviors and cultural practices, and is therefore considered an adaptation that has evolved to promote human well-being.
Well #
being refers to the state of being healthy, happy, and fulfilled, and in the context of Evolutionary Psychology, it is used to explain how well-being has evolved to promote survival and reproductive success. Related terms include happiness and life satisfaction, which describe the positive emotions and experiences that individuals strive for.