Two Major causes of How Species Changed

1246 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Genetic drift, mutation, natural selection, etc

Evolution is defined as change over time in organisms. Before Charles Darwin, scientist Jean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet Chevalier de Lamark noted there were two major causes of how species changed. They were first through a natural tendency for each species to progress towards a higher form and second by the inheritance of acquired characteristic. Baron George Leopold Chretien Frederick Dagobert Cuvier theory to explain the changes that occurred in species was called catastrophism which states that species are wipe-out periodically by sudden catastrophes like natural disasters, and they are replaced by a different set of species. Although, many scientists before Charles Darwin noticed the difference in species; it was Darwin who wanted to explain the process in which the changes in a species happened over time. The theory of natural selection would help to explain this occurrence. The theory of natural selection consists of 3 main components: variation, inheritance, and selection. Darwin noted that organisms exist in excess far greater than they can survive or reproduce. Within these organisms there are different variations. Those variations are then inherited from parent to offspring; generation after generation. The organism with inherited characteristic that help with survival and reproduction are selected amongst the different variations of that organism. They are then able to reproduce more than others and therefore they are able to pass down their traits to one generation on to the next. Darwin’s theory of natural selection explained adaptations that helped a species to survive. Darwin also wanted to explain the changes that occurred through the success of mating. This theory is called sexual selection which can exp...

... middle of paper ...

...elds will because to better understand their field of study. It will help give these sub-fields a foundation on which to anchor their beliefs.

Works Cited

Blasi, C., & Causey, K. (2010). Evolutionary psychology and evolutionary developmental psychology: Understanding the evolution of human behavior and development. Psicothema, 22(1), 1-3.

Paas, F., & Sweller, J. (2012). An Evolutionary Upgrade of Cognitive Load Theory: Using the Human Motor System and Collaboration to Support the Learning of Complex Cognitive Tasks. Educational Psychology Review, 24(1), 27-45. doi:10.1007/s10648-011-9179-2

Buss, David. (2012). Evolutionary Psychology: The new Science of the Mind. Boston, MA: Person Education.

Myers, David, G. (2012). Social Psychology. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

Comer, Ronald, J. (2012). Abnormal Psychology. New York, NY: Worth Pulbishers.

Show More
Related

  • The Evolution Of The Tufted Titmouse

    1126 Words  | 3 Pages

    Evolution, also known as descent with modification, is a phrase Darwin used in proposing the evolution of Earth’s many species. Charles Darwin noticed that the descendants of ancestral species were different from the present day forms of species. Darwinism is a theory of biological evolution developed by Charles Darwin who was an English naturalist. He expounded the theory of evolution in his book of the Origin Species in 1859. He expresses that all types of organisms emerge and develop through natural selection, small, acquired traits that expands the individuals of capacity, survival, and reproduction. In this book, Darwin theorized that animals and plants evolve and develop with the aid of the creator through the process of natural selection.

    Read More

  • Social Welfare: Sucking Off The Tit of America

    1518 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lennox, James. "Darwinism." Stanford University. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2010 Edition). , 13 Aug. 2004. Web. 12 May 2014.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Natural Selection

    1633 Words  | 4 Pages

    Natural selection is simple yet complex process that allows species adapt to its environment. Natural selection guides evolution by “sifting out” favorable traits that increase survival for the species. Natural selection is driven by reproductive success. If a species can reproduce and its offspring survive than any traits in its genotype that assisted in its survival will be passed on from generation to generation and ensure that the species will live on. Around the time the Theory of Evolution was suggested, society was very religious and very pressed on the Theory of Creation, so the publication of Darwin’s The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection caused a lot of controversy. Darwin gave the world strong evidence that natural selection and evolution played a major role in the development of the species that we see today. Of course natural selection is not the only process driving evolution. In order for natural selection to happen, the species has to have genetic variation. Genetic variation happens because of mutations and recombination of genes. Other processes that contribute are gene flow and genetic

    Read More

  • Genetic Determinism

    2847 Words  | 6 Pages

    Steen, R. Grant. DNA and Destiny: Nurture and Nature in Human Behavior. New York: Plenum Press, 1996.

    Read More

  • Theory of Mind

    1083 Words  | 3 Pages

    Smith, S. & Stevens, R. (2002) Evolutionary Psychology, in Miell, D., Pheonix, A. and Thomas, K. (eds) Mapping Psychology 1, Milton Keynes, The Open University.

    Read More

  • What´s Evolutionary Psychology?

    2527 Words  | 6 Pages

    ...criterion that true science is progressive. It has proven able to successfully account for apparent anomalies and generate novel predictions and explanations and therefore has the hallmarks of a currently progressive research program capable of providing us with new knowledge of how the mind works (Ketellar and Ellis 2000). A glance at the Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology (2005), edited by David Buss, shows just how vigorous and productive the field is. Important challenges remain in the discipline, however. The most important are determining the role of domain-specific versus domain-general processes and integrating evolutionary psychology with other behavioral sciences like genetics, neuroscience, and psychometrics (Buss 2004; Rice 2011). Even though critics will remain, Evolutionary Psychology will remain as a scientific discipline for the foreseeable future.

    Read More

  • The Relationship Between the Transactional Model, and the General Adaptation Syndrome

    1591 Words  | 4 Pages

    Gross, R (2010). Psychology: The science of mind and behaviour. 6th ed. London: Hodder Education. p188.

    Read More

  • Evolutionary Psychology

    985 Words  | 2 Pages

    The purpose of this academic piece is to critically discuss The Darwinist implication of the evolutionary psychological conception of human nature. Charles Darwin’s “natural selection” will be the main factor discussed as the theory of evolution was developed by him. Evolutionary psychology is the approach on human nature on the basis that human behavior is derived from biological factors and there are psychologists who claim that human behavior is not something one is born with but rather it is learned. According to Downes, S. M. (2010 fall edition) “Evolutionary psychology is one of the many biologically informed approaches to the study of human behavior”. This goes further to implicate that evolutionary psychology is virtually based on the claims of the human being a machine that can be programmed to do certain things and because it can be programmed it has systems in the body that allow such to happen for instance the nervous system which is the connection of the spinal cord and the brain and assists in voluntary and involuntary motor movements.

    Read More

  • Humanistic Theory vs. Evolutionary Theory

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    Evolutionary theory is developed from Darwin’s argument that “suggests that a process of natural selection leads to the survival of the fittest and the development of traits that enable a species to adept to its environment. “ Many have taken this a step further by saying that our genetic inheritance determines not only our physical traits but also certain personality traits and social behaviors. There is such a controversy over significant behaviors that unfold because many believe that we are already pre-programmed human species. It has also been argued that evolution is reflected in functioning and structure of the nervous system and that is has evolutionary factors that have a significant influence on everyday behavior. With what is being said means that if we follow the evolutionary theory, then it would be said that we are already pre-programmed from before birth to follow certain protocols in life. Whether it is from finding a mate or by getting a job. It also believed that this theory gives use cues from our own system to follow, providing us with certain aspects of life from our ancestors. By believing in this theory we can determine that the importance of heredity when influencing human behavior. Behavioral geneticists and evolutionary psychologists have both agreed that not only do genetic factors provide specific behaviors or traits but it also shows the limitations on the emergence of such traits or behaviors. What this means is that our genetics will determine how tall we will be to how ...

    Read More

  • Evolution of the Human Brain

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    Grysman, A. (2012). Evolution of the Brain[PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from Soul Beliefs: Causes and Consequences Online Course site: rutgersonline.net.

    Read More

  • Natural and Artificial Selection

    1617 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many scientists in the past, such as Aristotle and Plato, believed that there were no changes in populations; however, other scientists, such as Darwin and Wallace, arose and argued that species inherit heritable traits from common ancestors and environmental forces drives out certain heritable traits that makes the species better suited to survive or be more “fit” for that environment. Therefore, species do change over a period of time and they were able to support their theory by showing that evolution does occur. There were four basic mechanisms of evolution in their theory: mutation, migration, genetic drift, and natural selection. Natural selection is the gradual process by which heritable traits that makes it more likely for an organism to survive and successfully reproduce increases, whereas there is a decline in those who do have those beneficial heritable traits (Natural Selection). For example, there is a decrease in rain which causes a drought in the finches’ environment. The seeds in the finches’ environment would not be soft enough for the smaller and weaker beak finches to break; therefore, they cannot compete with the larger and stronger beak finches for food. The larger and stronger beak finches has a heritable trait that helps them survive and reproduce better than others for that particular environment which makes them categorized under natural selection (Freeman, 2002).

    Read More

  • Intelligent Design vs. Evolution

    922 Words  | 2 Pages

    The evolutionary theory is the concept that species evolve over time through the mechanism of natural selection of survival and reproduction. Natural selection means acting on the assumption that various living organisms were produced by genetic diversity and mutation. The evolution theory may also be referred to as the philosophizing science. This theory states that all phenomena are derived from natural causes and can be explained by scientific laws without reference to a plan or purpose.

    Read More

  • Classical and Operant Conditioning

    1360 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nevid, J. S. (2012). Essentials of psychology: Concepts and applications. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

    Read More

  • The Use of Psychoanalysis to Make Sense of Human Behavior

    1334 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gross, Richard. PSYCHOLOGY: The science of the mind and behaviour. Hodder and Stoughton Educational. 1992.

    Read More

  • Lamarck's Theory Of Evolution

    632 Words  | 2 Pages

    Evolution is a complex process by which organisms change over time; it is a process in which traits are passed from one generation to the next (Darwin and Beer 1996:108-139). Evolutionists have tried to explain the loss of functions of different organs, for centuries. The two most prominent scientists that studied evolution were Jean-Baptist Lamarck and Charles Darwin. Lamarck’s theory of inheritance of acquired characters and Darwin’s variational evolution were the most important theories that attempted to explain evolution before the discovery of genes during the beginning of the twentieth century.

    Read More

More about Two Major causes of How Species Changed

Open Document