Evolution, Genetics & Experience

• INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR


  Behaviors that occur in all like members of a species, even when there seems to have been no opportunity for them to have been learned
• SOCIAL DOMINANCE


  The males of many species establish a stable hierarchy of social dominance through combative encounters with other males
• COURTSHIP DISPLAY


  Thought to promote the evolution of new species
• THINKING ABOUT EVOLUTION


  • Evolution does not proceed in a single line
  • Humans have little reason to claim evolutionary supremacy
  • Evolution does not always proceed slowly and gradually
  • Few products of evolution have survived to the present day
  • Evolution does not progress to preordained perfection
  • Not all existing behaviors or structures are adaptive
  • Not all existing adaptive characteristics evolved to perform their current function
  • Similarities among species do not necessarily mean common evolutionary origins
• Descartes (1596-1650) advocated a philosophy of physical matter behaving according to the laws of nature, suitable for scientific investigation
• ETHOLOGY


  The study of animal behavior in the wild
• HUMAN EVOLUTION


  • Darwin presented three kinds of evidence to support his assertion that species evolve
  • Natural selection: heritable traits associated with high rates of survival and reproduction are most likely to be passed on
  • Fitness: the ability of an organism to survive and contribute its genes to the next generation