How femininity may have shaped modern society

[JimC]

It is possible for evolutionary psychology to be one of the useful tools for examining the human condition, while at the same time a discipline that sometimes lets speculative enthusiasm get the better of a soundly evidence-based approach.

[DaveDodo007]

Erm.. You do realize we are on a comment section of a small forum, what were you expecting Scot, peer review?

[Scott1328]

No, but I expect a link to the peer review criticism rather blind dismissal because you are guessing that the methodology is similar to the standard straw man misapprehensions of E.P.

[mistermack]

Evolutionary psychology might be flawed, in the way it's applied. But for me, it's the ONLY psychology that's worth even looking at.
Obviously, it can easily be fucked up, by people taking it miles ahead of the evidence. But that doesn't negate the fact that our brains are the product of evolution, and most of what we feel and do is a direct result of that.
We have a modern culture that we are exposed to, a bit like the software of a pc. But the hardware is entirely the result of evolution.

And looking at other animals, virtually ALL of their behaviour is evolved. So where our behaviour is like that of related species, you can confidently say that it's down to our evolution.

[DaveDodo007]

So somebody should link me to the good 'sciency' evolutionary psychology to put me in my place, don't be offended if I don't hold my breath.

[JimC]

Does that mean we should be offended if you do hold your breath?

[DaveDodo007]

Hell yes.

[Blind groper]

Evolutionary psychology is like superstring theory in that it is very appealing to the people who like the theory, but there is no real empirical evidence to back it up. It might be real, and reflect the real world. Or it might be total bollocks.

[surreptitious57]

This is why I think evolutionary psychology sucks balls

You will be pleased to know that many feminists think the same

So at long last you finally have something in common with them

[JimC]

This is why I think evolutionary psychology sucks balls

You will be pleased to know that many feminists think the same

So at long last you finally have something in common with them

[cronus]

Most people, men and women, are motivated by their next meal. All else is speculation.

[mistermack]

Evolutionary psychology is like superstring theory in that it is very appealing to the people who like the theory, but there is no real empirical evidence to back it up. It might be real, and reflect the real world. Or it might be total bollocks.

I don't get that at all. It's not a theory, it's a field of study. If it doesn't reflect the real world, it's because they got it wrong, not that it's not a valid field of study.
When people thought that the Earth was the centre of the Universe, that didn't invalidate cosmology as a science.
The evidence for evolution is overwhelming, so we know that our brains evolved to produce what we were born with today, so I think it's obvious that evolution should be a major factor in analysing what goes on inside our heads.
If the psychologists come up with a load of bollocks, that's just their fault.

I wouldn't advocate ignoring climate science, even though they are spouting a load of bollocks at the moment. You can still pick out the good bits, and I'm sure they'll improve over time.

[laklak]

Somebody needed to keep the cave warm and somebody else needed to go kill the bear. Luck of the draw, I suppose.

[DaveDodo007]

This is why I think evolutionary psychology sucks balls

You will be pleased to know that many feminists think the same

So at long last you finally have something in common with them

Feminists don't like evo psyc because it doesn't suit their ideology I on the other hand think it is bullshit because of its lack of scientific credentials, a stopped clock and all that.

[DaveDodo007]

Evolutionary psychology might be flawed, in the way it's applied. But for me, it's the ONLY psychology that's worth even looking at.
Obviously, it can easily be fucked up, by people taking it miles ahead of the evidence. But that doesn't negate the fact that our brains are the product of evolution, and most of what we feel and do is a direct result of that.
We have a modern culture that we are exposed to, a bit like the software of a pc. But the hardware is entirely the result of evolution.

And looking at other animals, virtually ALL of their behaviour is evolved. So where our behaviour is like that of related species, you can confidently say that it's down to our evolution.

All of that is covered in evolutionary biology where facts and evidence are a prerequisite were selection is a hypothesis that must be rigorously supported by the data and not merely evoked as the causal explanation for a trait. Otherwise it is just story-telling, plain and simple.