Evolutionary Mismatch Theory

Question 1

Adaptive Lag occurs when…

Answer 1

The environment that existed changed more rapidly than the time required for natural selection to act upon the mechanism in response to the change

Question 1

4 cases of Adaptive Lag affecting evolved psychological mechanism

Answer 1

1. Change in input intensity
2. Missing input
3. Input replaced by novel or fake cues with similar attributes
4. Change in consequences of output

Question 2

2 types of Evolutionary Mismatch

Answer 2

1. Forced
2. Hijacked

Question 3

How does Forced Mismatch occur?

Answer 3

Occurs when natural or human-induced environmental changes are imposed upon organisms

Question 4

How does Hijacked Mismatch occur?

Answer 4

Occurs when novel stimuli within natural or human-induced environments become favored over the original inputs

Question 5

Steps to Evolutionary Mismatch Theory

Answer 5

1. Identify problems of modern living
2. Identify the mismatched mechanism
3. Identify the departure from the EEA
4. Provide empirical evidence
5. Propose a mismatch-informed solution

Question 6

Details on ‘Identifying Problems of Modern Living’

Answer 6

Observe a phenomenon in modern living that
1. Does not exist in our evolutionary history
2. Came about due to unprecedented changes in human environments

Question 7

Details on ‘Identifying the Mistmatched Mechanism’

Answer 7

Identify the evolved psychological mechanism and define its core design features such as the inputs, the decision rules, and the outputs

Question 8

Details on ‘Identifying the Departure from EEA’

Answer 8

1. Identify how the inputs have changed in magnitude, are missing, or have been superseded by an evolutionary novel input to produce a maladaptive output
2. Identify if the output has lost its adaptive qualities as EEA changed

Question 9

Details on ‘Providing Empirical Evidence’

Answer 9

1. Primary research
   -> Design research to test these predictions
2. Secondary research
   -> Find existing research whose findings follow those of the predicted effects and shape existing knowledge into a scoping review

Question 10

What is the threat of HARKing in utilizing secondary research to provide empirical evidence of an evolutionary mismatch?

Answer 10

Hypothesizing After the Results are Known; All results should be treated as preliminary until directly tested with primary research

Question 11

Details on ‘Proposing Mismatch-Informed Solution’

Answer 11

Two possible approaches
1. Promote the restoration of features in the ancestral environment
-> Going back to the original environment

2. Promote conscious and educated engagement with evolutionary novelties
   -> Trying to cope with the new environment