Evolution and the Social Environment

• Welcome to the BOL Forum on Evolutionary Psychology by John Grohol, 3/19/97
  • Clinical Sociobiology: A Rationale by James Brody, 9/7/97
    • Evolution and Sociobiology: Warnings by James Brody, 5/25/98
      
      

Yes. Thinking like an evolutionist has significant costs. I've been pulled over to the other side... this previously do-gooder type social scientist enmeshed in theories of micro/macro systems and person-in-environment fit, now finds herself quoting Wright, Ridley, Brody and Fentress...

I watch the birds mutually reciprocate all over my yard as well as continually return to their previous nesting sites due to genetic encoding. I talk in terms of genetic fitness (my colleagues think I mean the aerobics class at the YMCA), and r-selection creatures, and the selfish gene (and I'm not talkin' Levi's slim cuts), and my colleagues look at me as if I myself have become an odd-selection creature with two heads. That's if I can find anyone who will talk to me! My social work friends stop in mid sentence when I suggest that their clients' children may be behaving in a certain way due to genetic.

The dirty dishes pile up in the sink, while my bookshelves buckle with all of my new books, (the titles of which I hide from the parish priest when he comes for an unexpected visit). The local bookseller is tired of hearing my voice on the phone, but quickly perks up as he quotes me the price of the new book I've just ordered on genetics. He gets richer and I get poorer.

My house is getting more cluttered as I put aside the housework to read the journal article I've just brought home from the library. My children are left to fend for themselves for supper, and my cat has taken to sitting by me, at the computer. (The only place, besides work, which I frequent lately) I don't have much time for Diner chats, but my coffee clatch colleagues are astounded that I have applied to a doctoral program in psychology (of all things).

One starts to see male distancing behavior and temper tantrums as products of control and testosterone, and female aggressiveness in courtship as a ploy for pairbonding. One even hesitates to hold a conversation about the weather with an older male, especially if he appears to be financially successful, for fear he may think she is looking out for the future fitness of her offspring (see Helen Fisher).

It seems I no longer have a choice. And I can't even remember thinking any other way. But the more I learn, the more intrigued I become, and the more there is to learn.

An evolutionist social scientist type? Never heard of one! Not yet, anyway. Just wait!

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