Thursday, February 7, 2013

Evolutionary Psychology Visual


Evolutionary psychology says that men look for certain attributes in women, like blonde hair, to determine fertility.  Women look for men who can best raise their children so money and social status are extremely important to them.

Evolutionary Psychology

Learner Objective: Examine one effect of evolution on behavior.

The media has made women like Barbie, blonde bombshells, the most appealing kind of women to our culture.  A study by Kanasawa says that men prefer women with blonde hair because it is an indicator of youth.  Because blonde hair evolved in Scandinavia, where people were forced to be clothed from an early age, men developed the notion that blonde hair indicates youth since most people lose their light hair in adulthood.  Therefore, when men prefer women with light hair they a unconsciously searching for the youngest mate possible which would probably bear them the most children.

This study shows how evolution can change how we define attractiveness and our behavior towards potential mates.  It also labels this version of a desirable women as more than just media created but also evolutionary.

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Hormones Visual Week 3

Hormones cause women to be more attracted to rebellious men during ovulation, bringing to the forefront the need to reproduce and changing their behavior to believe that bad boys could become good fathers.

Hormones and Behavior 3

Learner Objective: Explain the functions of hormones on human behavior.

People have often asked the question of why some women go for bad boys over the nice guy.  A recent study by Kristina Durante of the University of Texas observed women during ovulation and concluded that hormones released by ovulation push women towards the sexier, rebellious men in an attempt to become pregnant.  They also delude themselves into thinking that those men will be better fathers than the "nice guys."

This shows how a hormone can cause humans to take on some of their primeval instincts, even through years of evolution.  It also is another example of hormones' functions in human behavior.

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Hormones Visual Week 2


Hormone imbalance at different times during a woman's menstrual cycle actually does cause mood swings, affecting the normal behavior of a woman.  This displays the learner objective of how hormones affect human behavior.

Hormones Visual Week 1


Testosterone in males causes them to become sexually attracted to females.  Another hormone, oxytocyn, causes partners to be more loyal to their life partners.  This cartoon displays how hormones affect human behavior.

Hormones and Behavior #2

A recent study by Dr. Armin Falk from the University of Bonn discovered that testosterone levels are related to honesty.  He put participants in scenarios and gave some extra testosterone and others a placebo.  Those who were given the extra testosterone lied less frequently than the placebos.  

This was surprising since testosterone had always been linked to risky and aggressive behavior.  However, because the hormone is also linked to pride this may explain why those who had been given extra testosterone levels were more willing to be honest since they might have been promoting themselves.

Falk's study is related to the learner objective because the hormone affected the normal behavior by increasing their desire to tell the truth.

Source Article

Hormones and Behavior

Learner Objective: Explain the functions of hormones in human behavior.

Recent research published in the Journal of Neuroscience says that a hormone called oxytocyn may help preserve monogamous relationships.  In their study male participants, both single and monogamous  were placed an equal distance away from an attractive woman.  None of them kept their distance.  However, when oxytocyn was administered to the participants monogamous men kept a much further distance from the woman than single men.  This means that by keeping you and your partner's oxytocyn levels high they could be more faithful in the relationship.

This is related to the learner objective because the hormone oxytocyn, when raised, changed the natural reaction of monogamous men to beautiful women.  Without a large amount of that hormone the men behaved the same as single men.

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