Chapter 2: Evolution, Genetics & Experience

What makes you who you are?- your genetics?- your experience?

The nature/nuture debate (e.g, Trading Places)

Which matters more?- can you overcome bad genetics?- can you overcome lack of experience?

Is it physiological or psychological?

Dualism vs monism

“mind -stuff” vs “physical-stuff”

-do you have both?-can’t measure the “mind-stuff”

Lose self awareness of own body - like neglect

Is self-awareness something special?

QuickTime™ and aPhoto - JPEG decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

White-lined Sphinx Moth on my camouflage waders

Make some observations regarding genetics & behavior

Evolution & Behavior

Evolution - natural selection

- social dominance- courtship displays

- its all about SEX - passing your genes on

Evolution - basic ideas

-Not a single line

- rapid or slow - depends on environment

- very few species still survive

- no preordained direction

- not all changes (structures/behaviors) are adaptive

- structural adaptations may change function

- functional relationships may not have genetic connection (convergent evolution)

cladogram

Australopithecus - 6 million years ago

We started getting “homo” about 2 million years ago

Discovered in 1974 by Donald Johanson, Lucy is 3.5 million years old - A. afarensis

-a transitional form?

Big argument is which came first - big brain or walking upright?

Evolutionary Psychology

Mating is important- more about sex

Why different types of mating bonds? (think natural selection)

Polygyny - most common in mammals (selection)Polyandry? - not common (sea horses - very poor families)Monogamy - why?

- all with variations

Genetics

during meiosis

Taxonomy of living organisms

Homids in “dry”areaApes in wet jungle area