Case Study on the Influence of Evolutionary Psychology on a Homeless Teenager

Evolutionary theory posits that most human behaviours today, were once essential for survival. Despite the fact that the world has changed, humans have still retained those behaviours. For example, violence between men and was once essential for acquiring limited resources, to make sure one’s genes were passed down, and to deter enemies (Goetz, 2010). Violence directed at women was caused by viewing the woman as a piece of property, and to prevent mate infidelity (Goetz, 2010). From an evolutionary perspective, rape and sexual assault were once necessary in order to obtain a mate and pass down genes (Archer, 2013). In addition, child sexual and physical abuse can be explained by either a lack of resources to provide for the child, or genetic unrelatedness (Archer, 2013). Furthermore, prostitution, which dates back to our ancient ancestors, was a means of acquiring goods and services (Campbell, Muncer, & Bibel, 2001). Finally, anti-social behaviours such as stealing and drug-taking are be viewed as a means to survive from an evolutionary perspective (Kacir, 2010). The case of Mary, a homeless 16 year old with a history of sexual abuse, drugs and prostitution, can be explained using evolutionary psychology. Evolutionary psychology can explain Mary’s childhood, which has lead to her current delinquent behaviour.

According to evolutionary psychology, Mary’s childhood is a classic case of neglect and abuse. Mary grew up with three other siblings, a neglectful mother, and an absent father. Such parents are characteristic of r reproducers who produce more offspring than they can support (Bugental, Corpuz, & Samec, 2013). Her father can be characterised as a cad; he provides the sperm but does not stay around to support his offsprin...

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... behaviours that encourage survival and reproductive success are rewarded through positive emotions, whereas behaviours that threaten overall fitness are punished via negative emotions. What drugs do, as a result, is override the brain’s natural reward and punishment centers. The large pleasurable effects of drugs lead the user to believe that drug-use gives fitness advantages (Kacir, 2010). In addition, drugs block negative emotional states, preventing the brain from providing accurate information on the decrease in fitness resulting from substance abuse (Nesse & Berridge, 1997). In short, Mary thinks that by taking drugs it is helping her to survive (become fitter). Furthermore, the drugs are blocking the negative emotions thereby impairing the brain’s ability to warn Mary about the physilogical damage (decrease in fitness). With regards to Mary’s theivery