The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology

497 Pages·2010·26.32 MB·English

e New Science
the Mind
David M. Buss
The University of Texas at Austin
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ISBN-IO: 0-205-48338-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-205-48338-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Buss, David M.
Evolutionary psychology: the new science of the mind / David M. Buss. - 3rd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-I3: 978-0-205-48338-9 (hardcover)
ISBN-IO: 0-205-48338-0 (hardcover)
1. Evolutionary psychology - Textbooks. 2. Human evolution
Textbooks. I. Title.
BF698.95.B87 2008
155.7 -dc22
2007008465
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 RRD-VA 11 to 09 08
Photo Credits appear on page 477, which constitutes an extension of this copyright page.
This book is dedicated to:
Charles Darwin
Francis Galton
Gregor Mendel
R. A. Fisher
W. D. Hamilton
George C. Williams
John Maynard Smith
Robert Trivers
E. O. Wilson
Richard Dawkins
Donald Symons
Martin Daly
Margo Wilson
Leda Cosmides
John Tooby
And to all students of evolutionary psychology,
past, present, and future
___.!:,i J:;_ ___________. _._ ______
._~'_
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David M. Buss received his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkley in 1981. He
began his career in academics at Harvard, later moving to the University of Michigan before
accepting his current position as Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas. His pri
mary research interests include human sexuality, mating strategies, conflict between the
sexes, homicide, stalking, and sexual victimization. The author
of more than 200 scientific articles and 6 books, Buss has won
numerous awards including the American Psychological Asso
ciation (APA) Distinguished Scientific Awardfor Early Career
Contribution to Psychology (1988), the APA G. Stanley Hall
Lectureship (1990), the APA Distinguished Scientist Lecturer
Award (2001), and the Robert W. Hamilton Book Award (2000)
for the first edition of Evolutionary Psychology: The New Sci
ence of the Mind. He is also the editor of the first comprehen
sive Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology (2005, Wiley). He
enjoys extensive cross-cultural research collaborations and lec
tures widely within the United States and abroad. His hobbies
include tennis, squash, and disc golf, and he is an avid film buff.
..... .................................... ....a n. .
m~ ~;~ ~;.·
BRIEF CONTENTS
CPart Qne
Foundations of Evolutionary Psychology 1
1
The Scientific Movements Leading to Evolutionary Psychology 2
9
The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology 36
CPart7No
Problems of Survival 71
3
Combating the Hostile Forces of Nature: Human Survival Problems 72
CPart71.ree
Challenges of Sex and Mating 105
4
Women's Long-Term Mating Strategies 106
5
Men's Long-Term Mating Strategies 139
6
Short-Term Sexual Strategies 171
CPartGour
Challenges of Parenting and Kinship 197
7
Problems of Parenting 198
g
Problems of Kinship 230
CPartGiue
Problems of Group Living 263
q
Cooperative Alliances 264
10
Aggression and Warfare 291
11
Conflict between the Sexes 322
19
Status, Prestige, and Social Dominance 355
CPart &x
An Integrated Psychological Science 383
13
Toward a Unified Evolutionary Psychology 384
v

CONTENTS
Preface xv
1Jart Ql1e Foundations of Evolutionary Psychology 1
1
The Scientific Movements Leading
to Evolutionary Psychology 2
Landmarks in the History of Evolutionary Thinking 3
Evolution before Darwin 3
Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection 4
Darwin's Theory of Sexual Selection 6
The Role of Natural and Sexual Selection in Evolutionary Theory 8
The Modern Synthesis: Genes and Particulate Inheritance 10
The Ethology Movement II
The Inclusive Fitness Revolution 13
Clarifying Adaptation and Natural Selection 14
Trivers's Seminal Theories 16
The Sociobiology Controversy 17
Common Misunderstandings about Evolutionary Theory 18
Misunderstanding 1: Human Behavior Is Genetically Determined 18
Misunderstanding 2: If It's Evolutionary, We Can't Change It 18
Misunderstanding 3: Current Mechanisms Are Optimally Designed 19
Milestones in the Origins of Modern Humans 20
Landmarks in the Field of Psychology 24
Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory 24
11
BOX Out of Africa versus Multiregional Origins: The Origins of Modern Humans 25
William James and the Psychology of Instincts 27
The Rise of Behaviorism 28
The Astonishing Discoveries of Cultural Variability 28
The Garcia Effect, Prepared Fears, and the Decline of Radical Behaviorism 29
Peering into the Black Box: The Cognitive Revolution 31
Summary 33
Suggested Readings 35
:2
The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology 36
The Origins of Human Nature 37
Three Theories of the Origins of Complex Adaptive Mechanisms 37
The Three Products of Evolution 39
vii
viii Contents
Levels of Evolutionary Analysis in Evolutionary Psychology 42
The Core of Human Nature: Fundamentals of Evolved
Psychological Mechanisms 49
All Species Have a Nature 49
Definition of an Evolved Psychological Mechanism 50
Important Properties of Evolved Psychological Mechanisms 53
Learning, Culture, and Evolved Psychological Mechanisms 58
Methods for Testing Evolutionary Hypotheses 59
Comparing Different Species 60
Comparing Males and Females 60
Comparing Individuals within a Species 61
Comparing the Same Individuals in Different Contexts 61
Experimental Methods 62
Sources of Data for Testing Evolutionary Hypotheses 63
Archeological Records 63
Data from Hunter-Gatherer Societies 63
Observations 63
Self-Reports 64
Life-History Data and Public Records 64
Human Products 65
Transcending the Limitations of Single Data Sources 65
Identifying Adaptive Problems 66
Guidance from Modem Evolutionary Theory 66
Guidance from Knowledge of Universal Human Structures 66
Guidance from Traditional Societies 67
Guidance from Paleo archeology and Paleoanthropology 67
Guidance from Current Mechanisms 67
Guidance from Task Analysis 67
Organization of Adaptive Problems 68
Summary 68
Suggested Readings 70
CPartTNo Problems of Survival 71
:3
Combating the Hostile Forces of Nature:
Human Survival Problems 72
Food Acquisition and Selection 73
Food Selection in Rats 74
Food Selection in Humans 74
Why Humans Like Spices: The Antimicrobial Hypothesis 76
Why Humans Like to Drink Alcohol: An Evolutionary Hangover? 77
Sickness in Pregnant Women: The Embryo Protection Hypothesis 78
The Hunting Hypothesis 80
The Gathering Hypothesis 84
Contents ix
Comparing the Hunting and Gathering Hypotheses 85
The Scavenging Hypothesis 86
Adaptations to Gathering and Hunting: Sex Differences in Specific Spatial Abilities 87
Finding a Place to Live: Shelter and Landscape Preferences 89
The Savanna Hypothesis 90
Combating Predators and Other Environmental Dangers: Fears, Phobias, Anxieties,
and "Evolutionary Memories" 92
Most Common Human Fears 94
S.1
BOX The Adaptive Conservatism Hypothesis of Fears 97
Children's Antipredator Adaptations 97
Darwinian Medicine: Combating Disease 98
Why Do People Die? 99
The Theory of Senescence 100
The Puzzle of Suicide 101
Summary 103
Suggested Readings 104
qJart7hree Challenges of Sex and Mating 105
4
Women's long-Term Mating Strategies 106
Theoretical Background for the Evolution of Mate Preferences 107
Parental Investment and Sexual Selection 107
Mate Preferences as Evolved Psychological Mechanisms 108
The Content of Women's Mate Preferences 109
Preference for Economic Resources 110
Preference for Good Financial Prospects 111
Preference for High Social Status 115
Preference for Somewhat Older Men I 17
Preference for Ambition and Industriousness 118
Preference for Dependability and Stability 119
Preference for Athletic Prowess 120
Preference for Good Health and Physical Appearance 122
Love and Commitment 124
Preference for Willingness to Invest in Children 126
Preference for Similarity 127
Additional Mate Preferences: Humor, Incest Avoidance, and Voice 128
Context Effects on Women's Mate Preferences 129
Effects of Women's Personal Resources on Mate Preferences 129
Effects of Temporal Context on Women's Mate Preferences 130
Effects of Menstrual Cycle on Mate Preferences 131
Effects of Women's Mate Value on Mate Preferences 132
How Women's Mate Preferences Affect Actual Mating Behavior 133
Women's Responses to Men's Personal Ads 133