Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!oddjob!ncar!boulder!sunybcs!bingvaxu!vu0112
From: vu0112@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Cliff Joslyn)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: Re: Evolutionary factors in human psychology
Message-ID: <1085@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu>
Date: 31 Mar 88 20:18:19 GMT
References: <6107@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Reply-To: vu0112@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Cliff Joslyn)
Distribution: sci
Organization: SUNY Binghamton, NY
Lines: 25

In article <6107@watdragon.waterloo.edu> kmgopinathan@violet.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.

>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.

O---------------------------------------------------------------------->
| Cliff Joslyn, Cybernetician at Large (now amateur)
| Systems Science Department, SUNY Binghamton, New York
| vu0112@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu
V All the world is biscuit shaped. . .