Chapter 8

Question 1

inclusive fitness theory

Answer 1

• The modern evolutionary theory based on differential gene reproduction
• “inclusive” part refers to the fact that the characteristics that facilitate reproduction
  need not affect the personal production of offspring –> can affect the survival and reproduction of genetic
  relatives as well

Question 2

adaptive problem

Answer 2

anything that impedes survival or reproduction, or anything whose solution increases the odds of survival or
reproduction

Question 3

key criteria in recognizing the special design of an adaptation

Answer 3

efficiency, precision, reliability in solving adaptive problems

Question 4

evolutionary byproducts

Answer 4

incidental effects that are not properly considered to be adaptations (e.g. using nose to hold up glasses, not to smell)

Question 5

byproducts of adaptations

Answer 5

The evolutionary process also produces things that are not adaptations

Question 6

Sex Differences

Answer 6

• males and females will be the same or similar in domains in which the sexes have faced the same or similar adaptive problems. Both sexes have sweat glands because both sexes have faced the adaptive problem of thermal regulation
• In other domains, males and females have faced substantially different adaptive problems over human evolutionary history. Females have faced the problem of childbirth; males have not.

Question 7

effective polygyny

Answer 7

Among males, a few males will father multiple offspring, whereas some will have none at all

Question 8

sexually dimorphic

Answer 8

highly different in size and structure

Question 9

four explanations for individual differences

Answer 9

• result of environmental differences acting on species-typical (human nature) psychological mechanisms
• contingencies among traits –> temper may be advantageous if one is big and strong but not if one is small and weak
• frequency–dependent selection: the process whereby the reproductive success (fitness) of a trait depends on its frequency relative to other traits in the population
• optimum level of a personality trait
  can vary over time and space

Question 10

reactively heritable

Answer 10

a secondary consequence of heritable trait, not directly heritable