Evolutionary Psychology has been around since the beginning including humans and animals. The study is defined as “a theoretical approach to psychology that explains useful mental and psychological traits- such as memory, perception or language- as adaptations i.e., as the functional products of natural selection.” (Science Daily, 2017) In other words it is the study of the mind and body and how it evolves through time using natural selection. The reason for this approach is to link the immune system, the mind, and the body with psychology.
Even though evolution and natural selection have always been around, the idea emerged from Charles Darwin in the nineteenth century. He notices social instincts acquired through natural selection to be linked with
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I think natural selection definitely takes place throughout history. Not only because natural selection has been around since evolution, for instance apes to men. But even Charles
Darwin’s theory of the human evolution suggest our ‘basic structural similarity’ comes from the same origin and both species are primates. Over time monkeys have evolved with their surroundings adjusting accordingly to what is needed to survive and what is no longer necessary.
Evolution still happens today, case in point, disease resistance. Diseases have been around since creation, we live and we die an endless cycle. In order to prolong life, we have to evolve and evolution is about survival of the fittest. An example would be the malaria outbreak; recent studies suggest some humans have one specific gene “will protect your red blood cells
Carolynn Pravatta:
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Carolynn Pravatta: pg needed for direct quotes.
Running head: Evolutionary Psychology
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from invasion by the malaria parasite-but two copies will distort red blood cells.” (Business
Insider, 2016.) This is not the only case, there are also studies showing adaptations