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Evolutionary explanations can help us understand a range of behaviors from "summary" of Behave by Robert M. Sapolsky
Consider human aggression. You could focus solely on the proximate explanations for why one person punches another in the face. Those explanations might involve hormonal fluctuations, neurotransmitter imbalances, neural firing patterns, or social learning processes. But why stop there? The evolutionary perspective can offer a broader, more comprehensive explanation. Perhaps aggression evolved as a way to outcompete rivals for resources or mates. This broader explanation not only helps us understand the behavior itself but also sheds light on why certain behaviors are more common in certain situations or populations. Furthermore, evolutionary explanations can help us understand behaviors that seem irrational or counterintuitive in the modern world. Take the example of certain phobias, such as the fear of spide...
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