Evolutionary Psychology

Compare two different methods that have been used by evolutionary psychologists.

Evolutionary psychology in seeking to increase understanding of contemporary behaviour and abilities looks not to the causal explanations of the immediate cause, but to the far reaching functional explanation of assumed evolutionary cause – then asks how and why we are as we are. These ideas are informed by many disciplines from anthropology to ethology and archaeology, what follows is a comparison of 2 methods illustrated by examples and different research methods.

One method – Observation, classification and induction bases itself on those of natural history. Observations are made within the real world, classifications are made of the numerous instances that have been seen and from here rational inferences and general laws are formulated.

Darwin used this approach in his study of the variety of Galapagos Finch in the 1830’s*. Thus over a period of 4 weeks he was able to observe and record 26 different species of bird on the archipelago, further study of these led him to note the variety of shared characteristics in the birds separated only by graduation. From this he was able to classify the land birds he had observed into those that were predominantly insect eaters and those that were predominantly insect eaters.

This led him to make rational assumptions and formulate general laws about the birds’ evolution. His induction being that these differences were firstly due to chance variations in inherited characteristics amongst the birds. After this, particular characteristics that gave birds a higher chance of survival in a particular environment became features (that by virtue of selection) survived and became dominant in that specific bird.

This methodology also included making deductions and so from seeing relatively stable animal populations despite high birth rates, Darwin concluded that this had to be due to high death rates, and then (amongst others such as Wallace) was able to go on to create bigger theories about selection – natural and sexual.

Another method used is Hypothetico-deductive reasoning and testing whereby on the basis of evolutionary principles that are understood and accepted, particular hypotheses or predictions are made and then tested. Kettlewell (1971)* used this method in his study of Peppered Moths. Noticing a higher occurrence of dark-colour...

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... Byrne and Whiten – studies of living hunter gathers in their habitats.

The methods also have differences. Observation, classification and induction have lead to the formulation of general laws that underpin theories of evolutionary change – as in the adaptation finches to different environmental conditions. The other method deals with making quite specific hypotheses – a much narrower scope, and can also be tested through both observations and experiments, as previously highlighted; the first one by virtue of evolutionary changes taking place over such a long period of time can not.

To say one method works better than the other is to ignore the multi-disciplinary nature of evolutionary psychology. Observation, classification and induction has and continues to be one of the methods through which general laws have and are formulated, Hypothetico-deductive reasoning and testing in turn, sit on these pieces of established knowledge and general laws.

Additionally, in studying animals especially one as complex as humans in order to understand contemporary behaviour these methods don’t exist in isolation but often overlap and underpin each other as different aspects are researched.