Evolutionary Psychology Essays
From the syllabus:
Essay format
The essay questions will ask you to integrate theory and data in a specific area of
psychological research. The point is to engage the material you are learning, not merely
repeat it. To that end you will need to include in each essay at least TWO empirical articles
that you have gleaned from the literature yourself (that is, two sources other than textbook
and the lectures). In your search for sources, three very useful tools are “Google Scholar”,
“PsycInfo” and “Web of Science”. Wikipedia is not an acceptable source, though you may
find useful sources in the “References” lists of Wikipedia articles.
You will be evaluated on the coherence and rigor of your analysis—do you understand the
relevant theories; can you tell what kinds of evidence support or undermine each theory? (16
points; see more detail below), have you chosen appropriate sources (4 points), on the clarity
of your expression (4 points)? Maximum length for the essay is 1,000 words (not including
your References Cited section, which you must have!). Thus you will need to plan so that
you are not only clear, but also concise. Only word-processed assignments can be accepted,
and they must be submitted on Blackboard by midnight on the due date. Essays must be
12pt font, double-spaced, with page numbers. For citations, please use APA format. This
website is a good resource: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Late essays will be penalized by 40%.
Blackboard uses SafeAssign software to check for plagiarism – it compares your
essay against other submitted documents as well as the web. Don’t worry about
errors, I check these myself after SafeAssign does its analysis.
Essay #1:
The evolution of negative emotion. Due by 11:59pm on Blackboard. Check syllabus for due date.
A. Choose one “negative” emotion (for example, disgust, anger, or fear). How might this
emotion have solved adaptive challenge(s) for our ancestors? (4 pts)
B. What evidence suggests that this emotion is an adaptation (i.e., specifically designed by
natural selection to serve a function) and not a byproduct? (4 pts)
C. Has the modern environment changed in any way from the ancestral environment that
designed this adaptation? What are some potential consequences of this mismatch? (4 pts)
D. Do you think we should think of human emotions as facultative or obligate adaptations?
Why? Use your emotion as an example. (4 pts)
Essay #2:
The evolution of human mate choice. Due by 11:59pm on Blackboard. Check syllabus for due date.
A. Across mammals in general, reproductive success is generally limited by different factors
in males and females. Explain what this means. What consequences does this difference have
for the reproductive strategies of the two sexes? (4 pts)
B. To what extent does this apply to humans? (4 pt)
C. Considering the two things that you can get from a mate (i.e., genes and/or investment),
identify one domain where the sexes are expected to choose mates by similar criteria and one
where they are expected to have different criteria. Refer only to humans for part C. (4 pts)
D. For each, explain the evolutionary basis for your predictions (i.e., Why would the sexes
evolve these similar or different preferences?). (4 pts)

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