Evolutionary psychology, biology, and cultural evolution

Abstract

Evolutionary approaches to behavior, so far from indicating that human behavioral patterns must be universal and “wired,” actually provide us with good reasons for expecting cultural diversity and good tools for showing how it might develop. Even gender-role related behavior may be very plastic. Highly “macho” male behavior may be an adaptation to dangerous ecological and economic constraints. Similarly, homicide rates differ massively from culture to culture and may be under the control of specificable ecological and economic constraints.