Giraffes, Long necks and Bowlby

• The evolutionary arguement is that extra height gives giraffes an advantage in obtaining food that would bit be available to the shorter necked giraffes
• This is an example of how an animal has physically adapted to the environment
• This is an example of how an animal has physically adapted to the environment
• Psychologists are interested in evolution of behaviours such as memory, attachment, mental disorders
• All behaviour had been adapted to suit evolutionary purpose
• If a trait is not useful in our environment, they become dormant
• Fear & anxiety are adaptive responses (reaction to environmental stimuli). Fears become phobia’s when they threaten everyday, normal functioning.
• Biological preparedness (Martin Seligman 1971) is the concept that we are inherently designed to make certain associations with certain stimuli. Phobias that threaten our safety (heights, dogs, snakes...), threaten our survival and potential to reproduce...