Three sensible paradigms for research on evolution and human behavior?

Abstract

Far from being involved in a fundamental division, the study of evolution and human behavior is fortunate to have three potentially productive paradigms which could usefully coexist. In so far as “Darwinian psychology” (DP) is the study of causal mechanisms, guided by thinking about the tasks the mechanisms must perform, it has a clear place alongside the study of adaptedness. Instead of arguing its right to exist by pointing out problems with “adaptationism,” DP should present its audience with more examples of how DP research can be conducted. Meanwhile, adaptationists might move on from asking whether people behave as if they are maximizing fitness, and decide what to do with their finding that the answer is often “yes.” They might also get actively involved with dual inheritance theory, developing ways to make it yield more predictions.