Posted: April 29th, 2021

Week 8 Discussion essay

The Problem with Evolutionary Psychology
Name
Institution

The Problem with Evolutionary Psychology
The evolutionary psychology theory is among the most widely cited, quoted and put forward as the basis behind numerous social polies. This principle avers that the current mental and psychological traits are human adaptations, through natural and sexual selection to solve recurrent problems in the human ancestry (Saad, 2020). Proponents of this theory propose that our today’s behavior are our own adaptations towards the environment for the purposes of our survival. Unknown to many however, this theory has several fundamental flaws that render it defective and in fact dangerous based on the errors it has created in our research, an academic field that shapes policy and practice. Evolutionary psychology is based on flawed evidence, cannot be tested, has poor logic and has a serious damage on social change.
All evolutionary evidence to support the validity of the evolutionary psychology principle is based on poor sources and erroneous assumptions. The first source of proof on the validity of this principle is ethnocentrism, a field that deals with studying human changes and behavior patterns by understanding their cultures and histories. This source is susceptible to many errors as most of the information available is limited and cannot be relied upon as other significant bits of the same could be missing (Geher & Rolón). Based on that, any approach that relies on ethnocentrism have serious systemic errors and only results in wrong and undependable conclusions. The other source of information and evidence for the proponents of this theory is historical studies. These too have many errors as historical information can be interpreted subjectively to suit some convenient thinking.
Secondly, this principle cannot be tested and at least replicated enough to justify its position. Architects of the principle have conveniently argued that the evolution of traits would take a lot of time and is therefore not practical to follow through and measure the extent of trait changes. According to them, it would require numerous years to prove patterns of behavior change and correlate the changes to the subsequent change of all factors surrounding human life. Based on this fact, the theory fails to pass the basic test of validity of principles which states that quality theories must be testable to prove reliability (). Pundits have also pointed out that the theory fails to consider the aspect of replication of the study to different and individual case scenarios. Because of the uniqueness of the factors shaping change in behavior, they argue that the phenomena cannot be retested on other beings which is what theorists should purpose to achieve first.
The evolutionary psychology theory has a flawed logic and so follows its arguments. Based on the huge significance of historical information by the theory the principle works on reverse engineering. Many would argue that past information is only available to those who had subjective interest about it and we do not all agree on a standardized interpretation of the information by the theorist. In fact, the principle goes further to err by admitting that it is not all historical information that is available for use (Burke, 2020). This admission is based on the fact that we cannot tell with entirety the things that happened in the past. As a result the theory attempts to advance the fallacy of appeal to ignorance- just because we don’t have all the facts, then we should admit that behaviors and traits have changed due to the change of our environment.
Additionally, this approach of explaining social and mental change patterns is retrogressive in the course of social transformation. The principle does this by setting out desirable qualities and condemns others to hate and consequently extinction. It therefore promotes status quo by suggesting that people are what they are because they bear the right traits needed for their survival. It does not convince the average thinker why their behavioral dispositions are poor and should be disregarded. As a result, the theory impedes the attempts made by human beings to change certain ways of thinking, especially those that glorify superiorities that deny people justice and equal rights to opportunities.
In conclusion, evolutionary psychology is flawed and should not be considered while attempting to explain human behavior. It has demonstrated that it stands on limited and subjective evidence, which do not give it the credibility, validity and consequently, reliability. Scholars have also raised the issue of over emphasis on certain historical events without considering the others. The approach is additionally retrogressive in terms of discouraging the agents of change who have the motive of achieving social justice and equality of all. There is therefore need for scholars to engage on these issues so as to either ensure that the theory is improved or new ways of thinking on this matter are developed.

References
Burke, D. (2020). Controversial Issues and Misunderstandings in Evolutionary Psychology. The Sage Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology: Foundations of Evolutionary Psychology, 453. Retrieved from; https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=-
Geher, G., & Rolón, V. Controversies Surrounding Evolutionary Psychology. In Darwin’s Roadmap to the Curriculum (pp. 157-178). Oxford University Press. Retrieved from; https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190624965.001.0001/oso-9780190624965-chapter-8
Saad, G. (2020). The marketing of evolutionary psychology. Journal of Business Research, 120, 485-491. Retrieved from; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0148296319302310

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