GENERAL
Why do humans reproduce sexually and not asexually?
Why do humans have two genders? What implication does this have on behaviour?
How can evolutionary theory help us to understand human behaviour?
Contrast the EP and HBE approaches in the study of human behaviour and psychology, with emphasis on their strengths and limitations.
"Many of the complexities of human behaviour have their roots in our biology trying to stay fifteen seconds ahead of the parasites." (Sharpfella, 2008). Discuss.
How can traits that reduce viability and survivability be favoured by evolutionary processes?
Good genes models of sexual selection can only explain why males evolve sexually dimorphic traits. Discuss.
Why is parental investment theory of such value to modern evolutionary psychology?
Males are polygamous; females are monogamous. Discuss the accuracy of this statement and explain why this might/might not be the case.
What have the solutions to the problems of mate choice produced in terms of different sexual strategies?
There is disagreement as to whether human mating is solely designed for long term mating or for short-term promiscuous mating. Why might contemporary evolutionary psychologists consider this dichotomy incomplete?
Discuss the different mating strategies available to humans and couch them in a theoretical framework.
Why might women typically dislike casual sex?
Humans are designed to operate pluralistic mating strategies. Discuss.
How does balancing genetic quality and parental quality in mate choice manifest itself in human sex differences?
What are the differences in jealousy between the sexes? Why might this be?
Are humans polyandrous?
What can the study of human faces tell us about mating strategies?
Discuss the trade-off between quality of offspring and quantity of offspring.
In what ways are mating strategies context-specific?
Account for risk proneness in males using theories of sexual selection.
In evolutionary terms, what might homicide as an extreme index of aggression and risk taking tell us?
What risk factors increase the likelihood of homicide? Justify your answer with evolutionary logic.
America and Canada both allow their citizens to have guns and yet the homicide rate in America is significantly more. One of the major differences between the two countries is the income inequality. Discuss from first biological principles why this might be the cause of this gross homicide discrepancy.
Infanticide is an evolutionary adaptation. Discuss.
Who is more likely to kill their offspring: genetic parents or stepparents? Why?
Discuss how evolutionary psychology bears upon infanticide.
How can traits that reduce viability and survivability be favoured by evolutionary processes?
Good genes models of sexual selection can only explain why males evolve sexually dimorphic traits. Discuss.
Why is parental investment theory of such value to modern evolutionary psychology?
SEXUAL STRATEGIES
Males are polygamous; females are monogamous. Discuss the accuracy of this statement and explain why this might/might not be the case.
What have the solutions to the problems of mate choice produced in terms of different sexual strategies?
There is disagreement as to whether human mating is solely designed for long term mating or for short-term promiscuous mating. Why might contemporary evolutionary psychologists consider this dichotomy incomplete?
Discuss the different mating strategies available to humans and couch them in a theoretical framework.
Why might women typically dislike casual sex?
Humans are designed to operate pluralistic mating strategies. Discuss.
How does balancing genetic quality and parental quality in mate choice manifest itself in human sex differences?
What are the differences in jealousy between the sexes? Why might this be?
Are humans polyandrous?
What can the study of human faces tell us about mating strategies?
Discuss the trade-off between quality of offspring and quantity of offspring.
In what ways are mating strategies context-specific?
RISK
Account for risk proneness in males using theories of sexual selection.
In evolutionary terms, what might homicide as an extreme index of aggression and risk taking tell us?
What risk factors increase the likelihood of homicide? Justify your answer with evolutionary logic.
America and Canada both allow their citizens to have guns and yet the homicide rate in America is significantly more. One of the major differences between the two countries is the income inequality. Discuss from first biological principles why this might be the cause of this gross homicide discrepancy.
INFANTICIDE
Infanticide is an evolutionary adaptation. Discuss.
Who is more likely to kill their offspring: genetic parents or stepparents? Why?
Discuss how evolutionary psychology bears upon infanticide.
KINSHIP, RECIPROCITY AND SHARING
"Bats will help each other out because ultimately this is a selfish act for them. In humans this line of reasoning is simply not consistent with the data. We need a better theory." (Bob, 2008). What, in your justified opinion, is an example of a 'better theory' of human altruism?
How can our genetic relatedness to a person determine whether we will help them altruistically?
Social exchange reasoning is a domain-specific, cognitive adaptation that allows us to detect cheaters (Cosmides & Tooby, 2005). Discuss.
Are there modules for social exchange?
Are people altruistic to non-relatives? Why?
Are the classical theories enough to account for human altruism?
Will it be necessary to look at group selection to account for some human behaviours?
What is strong reciprocity and is it useful?
How can our genetic relatedness to a person determine whether we will help them altruistically?
Some theorists believe that kin selection (Hamilton, 1964) is not the only reason why altruistic behaviour has evolved. Discuss.
Social exchange reasoning is a domain-specific, cognitive adaptation that allows us to detect cheaters (Cosmides & Tooby, 2005). Discuss.
Are there modules for social exchange?
Are people altruistic to non-relatives? Why?
Are the classical theories enough to account for human altruism?
Will it be necessary to look at group selection to account for some human behaviours?
What is strong reciprocity and is it useful?
No comments:
Post a Comment