Title: David Buss’s Evolutionary Theory of Personality – JFPVreflections
Headings: David Buss’s Evolutionary Theory of Personality
David Buss’s Evolutionary Theory of Personality
David Buss’s Evolutionary Theory of Personality
Overview of Evolutionary Theory of Personality
VII. Critique of Evolutionary Theory of Personality
VIII. Concept of Humanity
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Content: It is mostly descriptive and, in that sense, tends to be somewhat neutral about describing human nature. Evolutionary psychology has a complex view on the question of determinism versus free-will. A common assumption of evolutionary theory by critics is that it is harshly deterministic in that it explains behavior in terms of an evolved past and genetic influence. Indeed, evolutionary psychology is often criticized for condoning traditional sex-roles (e.g., women are attracted to high status men and men are attracted to physically attractive women). Buss and other evolutionary theorists make clear, however, that evolutionary psychology is a theory of how these traits began, not how they should be. On the question of causality versus teleology it is clear that evolutionary theory comes down heavily on the causality side of the equation. Evolutionary theory sides more with the unconscious influences on thought, behavior, and personality than on conscious ones. The concept of humanity that will be most surprising to many people will be evolutionary psychology’s stance on biological versus social influence. Clearly there is a strong emphasis on biological influences, from brain systems, neurochemicals, and genetics. Evolutionary theory is also balanced on the question of the uniqueness of the individual compared to general commonality among all people.