Examine One Evolutionary Explanation of Behaviour

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Introduction State what you are doing in the essay This response will attempt to uncover the assumptions and interrelationships of the evolutionary explanation for emotion, in particular, disgust. Define evolution Evolution is the changing in the inherited traits of a species over time. Describe the theory of evolution Evolutionary psychology is at the biological level of analysis and aims to explain all behaviour by evolutionary means. Charles Darwin – the father of evolutionary psychology – proposed the theory of evolution. He suggested those who adapt best to environmental challenges will have a greater chance of survival, reproduction, and passing on genes. Natural selection refers to the idea that members of a species that survive competition and breed will have characteristics better suited to the environment and are more likely to pass on these traits. Natural selection results in successive generations of a species developing characteristics that make it more competitive in its field – adaptation. Explain the principles of evolution with behaviour; make a link to the question If it is assumed that a predisposition for certain behaviours is inherited through genetics, and that the principles of evolution dictate that genetically based behaviours of an individual who has reproduced are passed on (while genetically based behaviours of unsuccessful individuals are lost over time), then behaviours observed today should have an evolutionary explanation. In essence, if behaviour exists in humans today, then it must have in the past helped in human survival and reproduction. Behaviour that has helped a species survive, thus reproduce is described as adaptive. The key assumption of all evolutionary psychological research is that human behaviour must have been adaptive under some circumstances in the past. Body Introduce the topic, signpost
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