PSYC 1000 Lecture 11

Evolution of Language Advent of language an evolutionary milestone Language is the basis for cultural evolution –Tendency of cultures to respond adaptively, through learning, to environmental change –Allows for rapid adjustments to changes

Evolution of Language ADAPTATION Proponents: Stephen Pinker Language developed as direct consequence of natural selection Too complex to be side effect BY-PRODUCT Proponents: Noam Chomsky, Stephen Jay Gould Development of language accidental side effect of brain growth Is language an adaptation or a by-product of evolution?

Evolution of Language Regardless of how language evolved, what about WHY? –Social gossip hypothesis (Dunbar, 1996) Language functions as a form of social grooming (maintenance of social bonds) –Social contract hypothesis (Deacon, 1997) Language developed to facilitate marriage contracts between mates (communicate relationships to others) –Also ideas on how language relates to attracting mates Sexual selection

Evolution of Emotion Can emotions be related to evolutionary history? Phobias –Strong fear of a stimulus that disrupts life functioning –Rooted in predispositions to develop certain fears that were once adaptive in dangerous ancestral environments (accounts for most phobias) –Some phobias related to features of modern world resulting from conditioning

Biological Preparedness: Fears Do organisms have innate fear of some objects (e.g., snakes, spiders, …)? Wild monkeys show intense fear of snakes, but not captive raised monkeys. Suggest fear learned, but … Nonfearful Monkeys who see single example of another monkey responding fearfully to snake acquire fear of snakes (but not flowers or other non-dangerous objects) Suggests organisms have innate preparedness to fear snakes, but this predisposition needs to be activated by a single exposure to appropriate model

Evolution of Emotion Not all emotions can be explained by evolution … Depression –Reduced serotonin in brain linked to subordination (and behaviour change) –Evolutionary theory would suggest that actions would reflect attempts to re-establish dominance

Applied Evolutionary Psychology Disciplines have turned attention to evolutionary psychology to explain certain medical & mental health issues –E.g., fever = body’s response to fighting infection –E.g., substance abuse = body has brain receptors that correspond to certain drugs Opponent process Note: Some drugs may have adaptive function of reducing physical or mental discomfort

Critiquing Evolutionary Perspective Scientific Criticisms –Hindsight explanations can explain anything –Fail to explain some findings: e.g., some female monkeys mate with numerous males –Lack of mediating mechanisms Societal Criticisms –Perpetuate gender stereotypes and other negative social consequences. –Evolutionary psychology proposes genetic determinism and undercuts morality in establishing society. –Universal results (e.g., preferences) may result from universal inequities in status of men and women around world –Ignores commonalities, such as preference of both males and females for similar traits in partners