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Natural selection operates on psychological traits from "summary" of Evolutionary Psychology by David M Buss
Evolutionary psychology posits that natural selection acts on the psychological mechanisms that underlie human behavior. These mechanisms, or psychological traits, are the result of countless generations of adaptations to the environment. Just as physical traits like opposable thumbs or bipedalism have evolved to enhance survival and reproduction, so too have psychological traits like fear, jealousy, or mate preferences. One of the key concepts in evolutionary psychology is that these psychological mechanisms are not arbitrary or random, but have been shaped by the demands of the ancestral environment. For example, fear of snakes or spiders may have provided a survival advantage to our ancestors who lived in environments where these creatures posed a threat. Over time, individuals who were more afraid of these animals were more likely to survive and pass on their genes, leading to the evolution of a fear response. Similarly, jealousy may have evolved as a mechanism to guard against the loss of a mate, which could have had dire consequences for reproductive success in our evolutionary past. Those individuals who were more vigilant about potential infidelities were more likely to ensure that their genes were passed on to the next generation. Thus, jealousy, like fear, may be a psychological trait that has been shaped by natural selection. Mate preferences are another example of how natural selection operates on psychological traits. Individuals who are attracted to partners who are healthy and fertile are more likely to produce offspring who will survive and reproduce. This preference for healthy mates may have evolved because it increases the chances of producing healthy offspring who can in turn pass on their genes. In sum, evolutionary psychology suggests that our psychological traits are not random or arbitrary, but have been shaped by natural selection to enhance survival and reproduction. By understanding the evolutionary origins of our behavior, we can gain insights into why we think, feel, and act the way we do.
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