Human sexual selection, good genes, and special design

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary psychology
• Behavioral science
• Human mating

Background:

• Psychological processes and behavior are understood through functional design.
• Evolutionary biology theories of selection pressures are crucial.
• Past selection pressures are inferred, not directly observed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand the functional design of psychological processes and behavior.
• To identify which sexual selection processes account for human mating phenomena.
• To illustrate the centrality of searching for special design.

Main Methods:

• Inference of past selection pressures.
• Application of evolutionary biology theories.
• Focus on the epistemological concept of special design.

Main Results:

• Special design is defined as evidence of specificity, efficiency, and economy for a beneficial effect.
• Multiple sexual selection processes may explain human mating.
• The search for special design is central to identifying these processes.

Conclusions:

• Evolutionary psychology infers design from current psychological processes and behavior.
• Identifying specific selection pressures for mating phenomena requires rigorous investigation.
• The 'special design' heuristic guides research in evolutionary psychology.