Xref: utzoo sci.psychology:142 sci.bio:1040
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!watdragon!violet!kmgopinathan
From: kmgopinathan@violet.waterloo.edu (Krishna Gopinathan)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology,sci.bio
Subject: Re: Evolutionary factors in human psychology
Message-ID: <6169@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Date: 1 Apr 88 19:07:18 GMT
References: <6107@watdragon.waterloo.edu> <1085@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu>
Sender: daemon@watdragon.waterloo.edu
Reply-To: kmgopinathan@violet.waterloo.edu (Krishna Gopinathan)
Distribution: sci
Organization: U. of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 50

--> Cross-posted to sci.bio <--

In article <1085@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu> (in sci.psychology)
Cliff Joslyn writes:

>In article <6107@watdragon.waterloo.edu> Krishna Gopinathan writes:

>>If we model evolution as an incredibly long tournament of genes (mixed
>>n-tuples style), with mutations thrown in to make it interesting, then
>>the existence of almost every human genetic characteristic can be
>>explained by the survival advantage it gave to evolving man.  

>Well, it depends on how many mutations are neutral.  Selection preserves
>both favorable and neutral mutations.

I think that statement has to be qualified.  Selection will not preserve
neutral mutations in the presence of favorable mutations.  (example: the
non-survival of Neanderthal man.)  I understand your point though, and I
think an example of that is eye colour, where no colour really has an
advantage, and all except one are presumably mutations.

>>My question is:  Can the existence of common psychological phenomena be
>>linked to an evolutionary cause?  

>Of course.  All normal humans talk, think, sing, etc.  All psychological
>phenomena, all of biological origin.

>>For example, did the Oedipus complex
>>give the young a better chance of survival?  

>Assuming you believe in the complex, probably.  Unless it is neutral.

Questions, then:
(1)  Why do you or don't you "believe" in the Oedipus complex?
     (I didn't realize it was a matter of belief.)
(2)  If it did provide an survival advantage, how did it do so?



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Krishna Gopinathan                                 kmgopina@water.bitnet
Dept. of Computer Science               kmgopinathan@violet.waterloo.edu
University of Waterloo             kmgopinathan@violet.waterloo.netnorth
Waterloo, Ontario   {uunet,utzoo,ubc-vision}!watmath!violet!kmgopinathan