Unit 1 Scientific Approaches

Chapter 17

Evolutionary psychology

• Human behaviors evolved from bio processes and natural selection

• Culture also evolved to benefit individuals and the population

Human evolution

• Common ancestor of apes and humans 7-9 mya

• Diverged• Human ancestors from

Africa• Family Hominidae• Genus Ardipithecus• Genus Australopithecus

Meet Ardi and Lucy

Bipedal walking• Spinal column

attached to base and center of skull

• Pelvic structure• Fossil footprint

Larger brain size

• Homo erectus• Flatter face• Smaller teeth• Athletic body• Hunted, used fire,

made tools, ran

Ice ages

• Human groups adapted to colder climates

• Neanderthals (pre homosapiens)

• Cro-Magnon man• Complex tools