This video provides a brief introduction to the concept of evolutionary psychology that is discussed in more detail in your text. Originally, these concepts were called sociobiology and sometimes still are, but evolutionary psychology is the term more often used. As the video explains, the basic belief of this still-controversial science is that biology controls our sexual and reproductive destiny. It holds that Darwinian natural selection operates by enabling the genes of the best reproducers to survive in greatest numbers in the human gene pool.

Evolutionary psychologists claim that their theories have been given credence by research demonstrating that women tend to look for male mates that will be able to provide strong resources for home and family, while men search for younger women who will have high rates of fertility, thus assuring a strong chance for reproducing. These concepts all get quite complicated when they are superimposed on various social and cultural imperatives that may also influence mate selection.

Please watch the following video clip and answer the corresponding follow-up questions.

Evolutionary Psychology

1			One of the reasons evolutionary psychology theory is appealing is that it seems to make good, logical sense. However, it doesn’t explain everything. For example, how does same-gender sexual orientation make sense from the evolutionary psychology perspective, since mate selection preferences would not seem so based on reproductive demands?
2			Some critics claim that evolutionary psychology simply gives credence to old and outdated gender stereotypes and provides an excuse for men who want to have sexual affairs outside of their relationships. How do you respond to these criticisms?
3			Is evolutionary psychology a new way of looking at human psychology?