Evolutionary Psychology: A Primer by Leda Cosmides & John Tooby
| Title | Evolutionary Psychology: A Primer |
| Author | Leda Cosmides & John Tooby |
| Overview | The article “Evolutionary Psychology: A Primer” by Leda Cosmides and John Tooby introduces the field of evolutionary psychology by discussing its foundations and contrasting it with traditional views of the mind. Evolutionary psychology posits that the human mind is composed of specialized information-processing mechanisms shaped by natural selection to solve adaptive problems faced by our ancestors. This perspective challenges the traditional “Standard Social Science Model,” which views the mind as a blank slate shaped primarily by environmental and social factors. Key points include: Evolutionary Psychology’s Approach: The mind is seen as a set of evolved mechanisms, each designed to handle specific problems. These mechanisms, or “instincts,” are often automatic and invisible to us, leading to what William James called “instinct blindness.” The Standard Social Science Model: This model, deeply rooted in empirical philosophy, views the mind as a general-purpose processor without inherent content, with all mental content derived from external experiences. Evolutionary psychology, however, argues that the mind has a pre-existing structure that organizes and interprets experiences. Reevaluation of Psychological Assumptions: The authors argue for a return to basic questions about the mind, behavior, and their evolutionary origins. They suggest that psychology should be understood as a branch of biology, using biological principles to study how the brain processes information and generates behavior. This primer aims to provide a framework for understanding the design of the human mind through the lens of evolution, challenging the idea that the mind is solely shaped by culture and external factors. |
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