Controversies over Evolutionary Psychology

Overview of The DayCriticisms of Evolutionary TheoryCriticisms of Evolutionary

Psychology

Criticisms of Evolutionary Theory

It’s just a theoryThe evidence is weakHow can you prove a theory when the

evidence is all in the past

Responses No theory is ever completely proven.

Must be stated so that it can be disproved (“Falseifiability”)

Weight of empirical evidence Fossil record Similarities among species Contemporaneous studies

Grants’ study of Darwin’s finches the Flynn effect Compressed evolution with fruit flies Computer simulations

Religious Criticisms

Idea of intelligent design and creatorLiteral interpretation of scripturesPeople are apart from natural world

(great chain of being) Famous Scopes trial

Responses

Creation as process (rather than product) in not incompatible with religion

Are we part of the natural world?Is there a great chain of being from lower

to higher (and better) forms? We share about 95% of our genes with

chimpanzees We have about 30,000 genes, rice has about

70,000

Religion involves matters of faith and morality; science involves theories about about the natural world based on empiricism

Religion and science are different spheres Religion: Right and wrong; good and evil Science: What is, why, and how it works

S

Fears over Evolutionary Psychology

1. If some differences are biological, then this could justify oppression.

2. If aggression in innate, then we might begin to view violence as natural and acceptable.

3. Psychological mechanisms imply lack of free will and abdication of responsibility

Fear 1: biological differences could justify oppression

EP’s response: Scientific and philosophical views of all stripes

have been used to justify oppressionMarxism emphasizes blank slate and equality

Most biological differences among humans are trivial (humans are similar in most ways) Two people selected at random share about 99.98% of

their genes

Group differences do not imply individual differences

Fear 1: biological differences could justify oppression

Fairness does not require sameness Equality under the law Voting rights

Laws against discrimination Sex, race, religion, ethnicity, age

Knowledge of one’s own personal uniqueness can be liberating

What about social Darwinism?

Are the rich rich and the poor poor because of innate characteristics?

EP’s response High level of upward and downward social

mobility(about 50% of families change position in income quintiles every decade)

Only about one sixth of a male’s SES can be explained by genetic factors

Reproduction is the currency of natural selection, not wealth

Fear 2: If aggression is innate, this could

lead to viewing violence as natural

EP’s Response The naturalistic fallacy (if it exists, it

must be good) is just that: a fallacy. Just because something exists does not

mean that it is good or moral.

Fear 2: If aggression is innate, this could lead to viewing violence as natural

Deal with aggression with a realistic view of human nature, not a romantic ideal People have both base and noble instincts

Trust people but cut the cards Balance of power and institutions to

deal with conflict

Is Modern Civilization Responsible for Aggression and Violence?

Among pre-agricultural peoplesoften, 1/2 of men have killed

someonebattles more frequentcausalities are proportionally higherprisoners are fewer

Fear 3: Psychological mechanisms imply lack of free will and abdication of

responsibility

“Don’t blame me, my genes made me do it.” (sleeping around, murder, oppression)

EP’s responseThis argument is fallacious

it can be raised by any explanation of behaviorTwinkie Defense, Abuse Excuse

Confusing explanation with exculpationTo understand is not to forgive

Fear 3: Psychological mechanisms imply lack of free will and abdication of

responsibility

Many evil regimes have been based on a core belief that human nature is malleable and that people can be socialized to do anything.

Many fears about EP are based on Misunderstandings of EP

Misunderstandings:

Human behavior is genetically determined

If it’s evolutionary, we can’t change it

Current mechanisms are optimally designed

Critics of EP

Utopian visionariesSocial engineersProfessional advice-givers

Management consultants Child care “experts”

Summary

Criticisms of Evolutionary Theory Criticisms of Evolutionary

Psychology Critics Misunderstandings