Evolutionary Psychological Perspective Research Articles

Exploring the Concept of Parental Investment from an Evolutionary Psychology Perspective with an Emphasis on Investment Strategies for Adoptive Families: A Review of the Literature

Exploring the Concept of Parental Investment from an Evolutionary Psychology Perspective with an Emphasis on Investment Strategies for Adoptive Families: A Review of the Literature

Preference for Smartphone-Based Internet Applications and Smartphone Addiction Among Young Adult Addicts: Gender Difference in Psychological Network

Young adults are a high-risk population for developing smartphone addiction (SA), which bring about social issues. One theoretically and empirically supported proximal risk factor of SA is preference for smartphone-based internet applications (PSIA). However, most previous studies ignore gender difference and symptomatic heterogeneity of SA. Besides, many previous data analyses contain non-addicts, and the results derived might not be applicable to smartphone addicts. To bridging the gap, we used a symptom-level network analysis to assess gender differences in the links between preferences for 8 smartphone-based internet applications and 4 SA symptoms among young adults with high-level phone addiction (619 women and 415 men). The results showed that: (1) The relationship between the preference for video and the “loss of control” symptom was more pronounced in female addicts compared to their male counterparts. (2) Shopping app had stronger bridge centrality in women’s smartphone applications-SA network, which was positively linked with more SA symptoms. (3) Our research identified marginal gender differences in smartphone addicts' psychological networks, with female addicts showing stronger links between social media/eBook preferences and withdrawal symptoms, and male addicts displaying a stronger connection between gaming/eBook and other smartphone activities. The study provides a visualized network association and network metrics for understanding the relationship between PSIA and SA. We propose adopting a selective processing hypothesis and an evolutionary psychology perspective to aid in understanding these gender differences.

Evolutionary psychology of entomophobia and its implications for insect conservation.

Many people, especially those living in developed countries, exhibit irrational negative feelings (e.g. fear, disgust, and aversion) toward insects. This so-called 'entomophobia' has often been suggested as a key contributing factor to the ongoing global decline in insects. However, this topic has not been well-investigated. From this point of view, we discuss the formation processes of entomophobia and its consequences from an evolutionary psychological perspective. Adopting the concept of the behavioral immune system, we suggest that the negative responses toward insects exhibited by modern people are driven by a series of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral traits that evolved to avoid infectious diseases. We then provide several strategic recommendations for mitigating the prevalence of entomophobia and a roadmap for better understanding how individual-level entomophobia can influence insect conservation. Understanding the human psychological dimension behind the ongoing decline of insects will provide useful insight on how best to mitigate this decline.

Investor Relations as Strategic Communication: Insights from Evolutionary Psychology

ABSTRACT The investor relations (IR) function emerged from the need to limit information asymmetries between management and shareholders. As a result, the mandatory disclosure of material information is at the heart of the IR task. Over the years, however, investor relations has evolved into a strategic communication function, responsible for a wide array of voluntary disclosure activities, for relationship management, and executive advisory. Empirical studies document the positive impact of these IR efforts on share prices. Notably, these empirical insights point to tensions emanating from a strategic IR role: According to current regulatory frameworks, voluntary communication beyond mandatory disclosures should not be price-sensitive, and thus should not affect corporate value. To date, there is no authoritative theoretical account for the strategic role of investor relations. Some argue that IR shapes investor perceptions through sensegiving, by fostering social ties, or due to investors’ cognitive biases. This contribution proposes that evolutionary psychology allows for a more comprehensive theoretical account of the strategic role of investor relations. It reviews insights from evolutionary psychology and relates them to established concepts and empirical findings from IR research. It discusses avenues for future research and limitations to an evolutionary psychology perspective on strategic investor relations.

Relationship status and gender-related differences in response to infidelity.

The sexual imagination hypothesis suggests that responses to a partner's infidelity emerge from the sociocultural factors that affect individuals' imagining of that occurrence irrespective of biological sex, including relationship status (i.e., the experience of a serious, committed relationship). Nevertheless, evolutionary psychological perspectives predict that responses to a partner's infidelity emerge from a sex-specific evolved innate mechanism. A lower 2D:4D digit ratio is associated with more robust responses to a partner's sexual infidelity. In this study, participants (660 males and 912 females) were requested to measure finger lengths, reactions to their partners' sexual and emotional infidelity, and relationship status. A logistic regression and multiple regression analyses revealed that relationship status was uniquely associated with responses to a partner's sexual and emotional infidelity beyond the effects of sex and 2D:4D. Those in committed relationships were more upset or distressed over their partners' infidelity, particularly over sexual infidelity, than those not in committed relationships. The results supported the sexual imagination hypothesis indirectly, while evolutionary psychological perspectives were met with skepticism. Our findings implied that sex differences in jealousy result from relationship status, and that responses to partners' infidelity are more alike than different.

The Effect of Revealing Clothes on the Formation of Sexual Stereotypes

This paper focuses on the relationship between revealing clothes to forming some stereotypes based on evolutionary psychology. Through the color of clothing and revealing clothes, common examples in everyday life, we analyze the perceptions and reactions of both genders to such behaviors through evolutionary psychology. This paper finds that men and women have different views on revealing clothes, which directly leads to stereotypes. Research on stereotypes can allow society to understand the reasons for their formation and make improvements. From the perspective of evolutionary psychology, our behavior is determined by our ancestors, and if we make improvements now, our descendants will be positively changed.

Why Story Matters: The Fitness Enhancing Strategies in Storytelling

Did storytelling in ancestral society help individuals to accrue fitness benefits? Here I explore what benefits storytelling brings to the storyteller and the audience respectively from the perspective of evolutionary psychology. Early human societies did not have the large number of technological innovations that we have that let us accomplish more and more in ever less time; time was relatively precious to ancestral humans. In this context, the emergence of "storytelling" presents a quandary. Why did people organized such collective activities and why did they spend time listening to the content of stories?

Study on the Sexual Attractiveness of Male Beard and Female Long Hair to the Opposite Sex

In contemporary society, men gradually increase their demand for shavers to keep their faces clean. Women also seem to pursue long hair by using a wig or artificial hair integrations. So, this paper will analyze these phenomena by studying the role of male beard and female long hair in mating selection from an evolutionary psychology perspective. This work is largely based on empirical evidence, previous studies , and relevant theories (such as short- and long-term mating strategies, parental investment theory, and good genes theory) to verify the hypotheses and generate the results. Unlike our initial assumptions, the result shows that women prefer men with beards in short-term relationships and men without beards in long-term relationships. The results also indicated that men prefer long-haired women more in long-term relationships while not having any preference for long-haired women in short-term relationships.

The Evolutionary Psychological Perspective on Social Anxiety Disorder and Its Underlying Mechanism

The Evolutionary Psychological Perspective on Social Anxiety Disorder and Its Underlying Mechanism

Evolutionary psychological perspectives on filicide are applicable in modern-day Norway.

Current evolutionary psychological (EP) perspectives on filicide perpetration propose that it is an extreme behavioral manifestation of psychological mechanisms that evolved due to their function toward enabling ancestrally adaptive discriminative parental investment. Predictions concerning the characteristics traits of filicide derived from this hypothesis have been empirically supported cross-culturally. Still, it remains a theoretical and empirical question whether EP perspectives on filicide are applicable in societies where the general population is alleviated from ancestrally salient cues to reproductive conflict between individuals and children in their care and the opportunities for lethal caretaker behaviors are highly constricted. Compiling a national sample of filicide cases in modern-day Norway, the present study catered for testing whether EP perspectives on filicide apply in such a society. As predicted, the majority of incidents (79.5%) were associated with perpetrator psychopathology (psychotic episode or filicide-suicide). This further catered for testing the EP hypothesis that filicides associated with perpetrator psychopathology will be characterized by traits that contradict an ancestrally adaptive logic for discriminant parental investment. A full series of predictions derived from this hypothesis was supported as filicides with this association included no step-parental perpetrators and, when compared against filicides that were not associated with perpetrator psychopathology, had older victims and perpetrators and more often multiple victims. The findings confirm the potential applicability of EP perspectives on filicide in progressive and highly developed welfare states, thus lending support to their universal validity.

Regional culture: The role of the invisible hand in shaping local family firms' top management team.

Research on family businesses has focused on the differences between family and non-family firms regarding the top management team (TMT), while this study further explores the difference within family firms from different regional culture based on the perspective of socio-emotional wealth (SEW) and evolutionary psychology. Using a sample comprised of all 625 family firms listed on the Small & Medium Enterprise Board and Growth Enterprise Board in Shenzhen Stock Exchange, this study finds that in regions of strong clan culture, family members are more willing to be involved in a family business and accept lower economic rewards. Particularly, when financial risk is high, these relationships mentioned above become more significant. Based on the results, this study proves that regional culture can affect the characteristics of top management teams in family firms, explains the heterogeneity of family firms' decision-making from a culture-based perspective and extends existing research on family business from the level of "family firm vs. non-family firm" to that of "family firms affected by different regional cultures".

Sexual-specific disgust sensitivity mechanisms in homonegativity and transnegativity; the mediating role of right-wing authoritarianism (RWA)

ABSTRACT Disgust specific to sexual stimuli has been thought to be an adaptation that serves purposes of pathogen-avoidance, partner selection and social dominance. While the link between disgust responses and homonegative and transnegative attitudes has been relatively established, it is not yet clear why. Literature using evolutionary psychology perspectives of these phenomena is scarce in areas with substantial LGBT-related violence like Colombia. This research aimed to study the interplay of predispositional (e.g. sociodemographic, reported contact), affective (e.g. disgust sensitivity) and cognitive (e.g. Right-Wing Authoritarian) variables in homonegative and transnegative attitudes of Colombian adults. Participants (N = 272) had a mean age of 26.38 (SD = 9.47), women comprised 72% of the sample and men 28%. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that increased sexual specific disgust sensitivity and greater RWA predicted stronger homonegativity and transnegativity. The relationship between sexual disgust and prejudice was partially mediated by RWA. Findings suggest that sexual disgust sensitivity adaptations in homonegativity and transnegativity may respond to selection pressures that differ from pathogen-avoidance perspectives, and that are associated with maintaining social hierarchy and social dominance. Anti-prejudice initiatives would benefit from targeting emotional responses of sexual disgust, especially within communities and institutions that have historically endorsed conservative and traditional values.

Thriving with Stone Age Minds: Evolutionary Psychology, Christian Faith, and the Quest for Human Flourishing

THRIVING WITH STONE AGE MINDS: Evolutionary Psychology, Christian Faith, and the Quest for Human Flourishing by Justin L. Barrett with Pamela Ebstyne King. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2021. 160 pages, index. Paperback; $20.00. ISBN: 9780830852932. *I was looking forward to reviewing this book for several reasons. Firstly, I have been following the work of Justin Barrett for some time. As a clinical psychologist working in academia in the UK, I taught for several years an undergraduate module in psychology of religion in which I dedicated several hours to his work in cognitive science and developmental psychology of religion. Barrett, formerly director of the Thrive Center for Human Development at Fuller Theological Seminary and, prior to that, director of the Centre for Anthropology and Mind at the University of Oxford, has forged an unlikely career for a person of faith in a subdiscipline of psychology popularly considered the sole preserve of skeptics and nonbelievers. *Secondly, if I carry a bugbear about the empirical psychology of religion, it is that at times it tends to avoid application, a sense of the implications of its findings for human living. In this respect, Barrett's collaboration with Pamela Ebstyne King is a welcome addition to this project. Currently based at Fuller Theological Seminary as executive director of the Thrive Center and Professor of Applied and Developmental Science, King adds applied nuance and some succinct epigrams that bring home the implications of evolutionary psychology in everyday life. *Thirdly, it seems very important to me that people of faith generally, and Christians particularly, continue to explore and write about the field of evolutionary psychology, not least because it is often presented as a competing narrative of even nonliteral readings of the Genesis account, in direct opposition to a benevolent creator and a universe that could be considered in any way purposeful. I have lost count of the number of young adults I have encountered who refuse to consider the possibility of there being a creator, or who have lost faith in God, as a result of reading secular or atheistic accounts of human evolution. *Barrett and King have produced a short and well-informed book designed for any interested intelligent reader. No prior knowledge of evolutionary psychology (EP) is required to follow their train of thought. In the early chapters of the volume, they state clearly the basic principles of EP and how the EP account of what it means to be human is remarkably consistent with the biblical understanding of the hallmarks of human life designed in the image of God. They focus on three overlapping domains of competency that are notably human--sociality, expertise acquisition, and self-control--or, as King pithily summarizes: the human capacities to relate, learn, and regulate (p. 46). The early chapters of the book convincingly argue that there is nothing incompatible with these elements of human nature, properly understood, and the Christian anthropology presented in the Bible. Barrett and King successfully side-step contention or sides of the evolution-creation debate. Their point about the compatibility of evolutionary and theological perspectives is well made, and will be of interest for those who are open to it from any faith or nonfaith perspective. *From there, the authors go on to outline their understanding of flourishing from this evolutionary psychology perspective. They note that human nature, with its social, intellectual, and regulatory capacities, has a dual aspect. On the one hand, these capabilities were forged in response to particular niches in evolutionary history; on the other hand, they offer human beings the possibility of redesigning the very niches which formed us. And therein lies the central dilemma of evolutionary psychology referred to in the title of the book. As a species we find ourselves facing the demands of twenty-first-century industrial life with minds designed to deal with the challenges of living in the stone age. Much of the failure in human thriving can therefore be attributed, the authors argue, to the gap that can open up between the social, intellectual, and regulatory capacities of human nature, and the requirements of the contemporary cultural landscape. *Each of the three capacities of human nature is treated to an entire chapter, examining how they can be inadequate to the demands placed upon them in our current context. Examples include the stretching of our social brain ability to breaking point by large populations, the failure of traditional pedagogies to utilize well-established cognitive biases and heuristics, and the overwhelming of our regulatory ability in the face of relentless advertising. We fail to thrive when the gap between human nature and human niche becomes too great, but human flourishing is promoted when we find ways of closing the gap between how we are designed and how we currently live. Barrett and King offer a raft of practical examples of how Christian faith and practice can contribute to this, such as network closure for socializing young people, age-appropriate education strategies for learning, and religious practices for building self-regulation. With these and many other evidence-based examples, the authors add evolutionary justification and theological depth to a common formulation in various forms of applied psychology, whether in clinical practice or the workplace, namely, that we flourish most when we fit our environment best. *The final two chapters take this proposition to its logical conclusion. Firstly, by querying what all this means for our status as bearers of the divine image, functionally commissioned to love God and one another, and to care for creation as God's representatives on Earth. And secondly, by giving space to a consideration of human purpose and telos. While Barrett and King avoid the suggestion that their book is aimed at those attempting to discern their vocation, the final chapter draws together the threads of their survey of human nature and its implications for flourishing with purpose and calling in life. *The book presents a convincing picture of consilience between evolutionary psychology and Christian theology applied in the real world. However, to my mind, it does leave a crucial question hanging. It is one thing to argue that the outcome of the evolutionary process is compatible with a Christian view of humanity, but what remains unaddressed, in this volume at least, is whether the evolutionary process is compatible with a Christian view of God. After all, this is what bothered Darwin. He was not wary of publication for fear of contradicting a literal reading of Genesis, but because his view of the origins of human life based on industrial-scale bloodshed was difficult to square with the existence of a benevolent creator. Once the conceptual problem of evolutionary creation is settled, the emotional problem of evolutionary creation emerges; the question of evolution morphs into the question of pain and evil. Personally, it would have helped this reviewer to more easily assimilate the message of the book if it had addressed this issue even briefly. But be that as it may, Barrett and King offer a coherent and elegant account of the confluence of evolutionary psychology and Christian faith in the quest for human flourishing, which is well worth reading. *Reviewed by Roger Bretherton, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Lincoln, UK, and Chair of the British Association of Christians in Psychology.

Reciprocity vs. Commitment in Bank Marketing Strategies

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate how bank marketing should respond to the banker’s paradox. Customers who need money the most are at risk for credit and thus unable to obtain a loan, according to the banker’s paradox. This relates to the fact that the client-bank relationship is based on reciprocity rather than commitment. We hypothesize that a bank marketing strategy that masquerades as a commitment will be more successful because clients have evolved to understand the superiority of commitment and be receptive to its cues. We put this marketing strategy to the test by sending 413 participants advertising slogans based on two types of cooperation: reciprocity and commitment. Our findings indicate that people do prefer bank slogans that imply a commitment-based relationship. The work’s novelty comes from its contribution to the literature of an evolutionary psychology perspective, which shows that commitment is a critical component of a successful bank marketing strategy.

Is Dating Behavior in Digital Contexts Driven by Evolutionary Programs? A Selective Review.

In recent years, millions of citizens all over the world have used digital dating services. It remains unknown to what extent human sexuality will be changed by this. Based on an evolutionary psychological perspective, we assume that sexual selection shaped behavioural tendencies in men and women that are designed to increase the reproductive fitness. These tendencies are referred to as sexual strategies. Males and females sexual strategies differ according to sex-dimorphic reproductive investments. We assume that this inheritance will affect human sexuality also in a digital future. To evaluate this assumption, we conducted a selective review of studies on digital dating services. Based on sexual selection theory, we derived a number of hypotheses regarding how men and women will use digital dating services typically and how the use of digital dating services might affect sexual wellbeing. Out of an initial data set of 2,568 records, we finally reviewed a set of 13 studies. These studies provided support for the notion that men and women act in the digital dating area according to sex-typical strategies. However, sometimes the circumstances of digital dating affect communication flow, e.g., in that men are even more active in establishing contacts than they are in real world conditions. Overall, women appear to accomplish their sexual goals in digital dating arenas more than men do given a surplus of male demand. Our results suggest that future human sexuality will be impacted by an interaction of both: sex-dimorphic ancient sexual strategies and new technologies.

Examining food choice of human females from the evolutionary perspective: The role of sexual selection

<p id="p00005">From the perspective of evolutionary psychology, sexual selection played important roles in the evolution of human psychology and behavioral phenotype. For example, studies showed that both risking behavior in males and prosocial behavior in females were partly shaped by sexual selection. However, the influence of sexual selection on females’ food choice has not been given much attention or systematically examined. As we know, food choice plays an important role in body shaping. Body mass is directly related to intake of high-fat food. To lose weight or shape body figure, many females look to dieting and healthy food intake. Also, females’ body mass and body shape are related to health and reproductive value. All the evidence suggest that food choice might be strongly selected by sexual selection in females. <p id="p00009"> To systematically explore the role of sexual selection in female food choice, two kinds of studies would help. The first kind of study is to experimentally manipulate mating motive and then record the change of food choice in females. This kind of study makes us possible to understand the causal relationship between mating-related cues and female food choice, which helps understand the role of sexual selection in female food choice. Theoretically, the salience of mating motive would make both males and females show signals that enhance their attractiveness in the eyes of the opposite sex. Since a low BMI and an attractive body shape are essential indexes of body attractiveness as well as signals of females’ reproductive value, and food choice contributes to fluctuation of BMIs and body shaping, it is not hard to speculate that priming of mating motive would cause an effect on female food choice. Meanwhile, we should diversify methods used to manipulate mating motive and explore the types of food that might be influenced by mating motive, so as to have a better understanding of the relationship between mating motive and female food choice. The second kind of study relies on examination of the fluctuation of female food choice across menstrual cycle. Female menstrual cycle is largely shaped by sexual selection and is accompanied by fluctuation of hormones such as estrogen and estradiol, which means relevant studies would contribute to understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the link between sexual selection and female food choice. However, the neurobiological basis of the relation between menstrual cycle and food preference has seldom been explored. Besides, sex hormones are regulated by human brain. Examining the brain substrates underpinning the above relation would be invaluable for further understanding the mechanisms involved. Also, human brain might interact with sex hormones in affecting the relation between female menstrual cycle and food choice. <p id="p00008">In future studies, we need to examine the role of sexual selection in female food choice from different perspectives and explore the moderating roles of other psychological components in the relationship between mating motive, menstrual cycle and female food choice. For example, previous studies have showed that dinning environment, affective state, cognitive and social factors all contribute to food choice in females. The above factors might interact with mating motive and menstrual cycle to cause an effect on female food choice. Moreover, oxytocin and vasopressin are also neuropeptides that play important roles in maintenance of intimate relationship. Future studies need to explore whether these two neuropeptides also play roles in female food choice as well as potential interacting effects involved. Owing to the difficulty of directly unveiling the dynamics of sexual selection, we have to look to some indirect evidence to understand the true nature of the roles of sexual selection in female food choice. Meanwhile, a brain-hormone-behavior framework would help a lot to systematically understand the role of sexual selection in female food choice.

“Fort Aux Fesses”, “Fort Aux Poches”, “Fort Au C&amp;amp;#339;ur”: Buzz or Reality? Initial Validation of Love Scale French Version and Effect of Women’s Mate Profile on Their Love and Happiness

This research structured in two studies had as main objective to study the effect of women’s mate profile on their love and happiness. It was conducted with a French-speaking Cameroonian sample. In the absence of a French-language love scale available in literature, one had to be validated. The first study was therefore intended to validate in a Cameroonian context, the French version of love scale. The results showed the French version has psychometric qualities which testify to its adjustment in Cameroonian context with a four-dimensional factor structure and 19 items. That tool made it possible to undertake the second study, which aimed to test the priming effect of the feeling of having a partner with a profile “fort aux fesses” vs. “fort aux poches” vs. “fort au cœur” on women love and happiness. According with hypothesis results showed that none of these profiles makes women more in love and/or happier at the expense of other profiles. The idea of a standard woman’ mate profile which would provide a certain degree of love and happiness seems irrelevant as evolutionary psychology argues. The debate which has inflamed social networks in Cameroon, tending to maintain that a “fort aux fesses” partner makes women more in love and/or happier at the expense of other partner profiles would be a “buzz”. This research enriches the literature on the evolutionary psychological perspective contribution in the study of romantic relationship.

RESURRECTION OF EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY IN GAMING: HOW CAN OLD PRINCIPLES CONTRIBUTE A NEW DOMAIN

The multidisciplinary character of game studies enables the implementation of knowledge from various study fields, and so explores games in different terms. However, not all approaches have so far gained sufficient attention. This study introduces the meaning of evolutionary psychology as well as points out its significance and certain neglect in relation to present digital games research. The exploratory study aims to contribute to the creation of a theoretical framework for the research of digital games from the perspective of evolutionary psychology. Partial goals include summarization, characteristics, and applications within the gaming discourse illustrating far-reaching ways in which evolutionary theory could potentially advance digital games research and hence enrich the game studies in general.

Adaptive Choice: Psychological Perspectives on Abortion and Reproductive Freedom

We explore abortion access, abortion experiences, and abortion stigma. We emphasize global perspectives on abortion diversity and the relationship between pregnancy norms and expectations, abortion stigma, and practical constraints on reproductive freedom. Evolutionary psychological, clinical psychological, and social-psychological perspectives illuminate how abortion decisions are shaped by strategies to optimize survival and success, support services that emphasize the costs and risks of pregnancy termination, and pronatalist norms and punishment of departures from those expectations. We call for future abortion research that integrates multiple subfields in psychology and is rooted in an intention to effect public policy and social change that promotes reproductive autonomy.

Cooperation and Competition in the Innovation Ecosystem From the Perspective of Evolutionary Psychology.

The innovation ecosystem is distinct from innovation itself; the former is based on technology, talent and markets, as well as many other elements of innovation that form the organisational system. Current research on the innovation ecosystem has primarily focused on theoretical discussions of the concept and analysis of evolution mechanisms and influential factors; however, research on mechanisms that influence cooperation and competition within the system is limited. Corporation and competition are the critical elements in the acquisition value of the innovation ecosystem and the realisation of innovation breakthroughs. Given the dynamic nature and complexity of the innovation ecosystem, this research is based on the “value co-creation” theory of innovation ecosystems and consistency with the “reciprocity” principle of evolutionary psychology. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie corporation and competition in the innovation ecosystem from the perspective of evolutionary psychology may foster more efficient cooperation and competition among enterprises, enabling them to realise the value of co-creation and innovation breakthroughs.