Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

525
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
525
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective01:23

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

181
In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
181
Contemporary Psychology01:29

Contemporary Psychology

1.5K
Psychology explores human behavior and mental processes through various lenses, each offering unique insights. This overview examines key subfields, including biopsychology, evolutionary, developmental, personality, and social psychology, highlighting their approaches and contributions to understanding complex human behaviors.
Biopsychology
Biopsychology, also known as biological psychology or behavioral neuroscience, focuses on the biological underpinnings of behavior and mental processes. It...
1.5K
Natural Selection and Adaptation01:15

Natural Selection and Adaptation

756
Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations,...
756
Scientific Nature of Social Psychology01:30

Scientific Nature of Social Psychology

173
Social psychology is a scientific discipline dedicated to understanding how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts. Unlike common sense, which relies on anecdotal experiences and intuition, social psychology employs systematic research and empirical methods to ensure objectivity and reliability. This distinction is fundamental in distinguishing scientifically supported findings from mere speculation.Four fundamental scientific values guide a structured approach to research in...
173
Introduction to Biological Bases of Psychology01:30

Introduction to Biological Bases of Psychology

3.7K
Biopsychology serves as a vital bridge connecting the intricate domains of biology and psychology, shedding light on how biological systems influence psychological phenomena. This field scrutinizes the biological substrates of behavior and mental processes, emphasizing the nervous system along with the roles of neurotransmitters, hormones, and genetics. It also incorporates evolutionary perspectives to explain the adaptive nature of mental functions.
The nervous system, the cornerstone of...
3.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Components of evolutionary psychology are falsifiable, but does that make it a good theory? Commentary on Costello et al. (2026).

The American psychologist·2026
Same author

Childhood Evolved Developmental Niche History and Autonomic Regulation in Women.

Developmental psychobiology·2025
Same author

How do babies come to know what babies know?

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2024
Same author

On the evolution of epigenetics via exaptation: A developmental systems perspective.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2023
Same author

Polygenic scores ignore development and epigenetics, dramatically reducing their value.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2023
Same author

How deep do we have to go to rehabilitate evolutionary psychology? Reply to Bjorklund et al. (2022).

The American psychologist·2022
Same journal

Cumulative adverse childhood experiences and parent-reported allergic conditions and asthma among U.S. children: A nationally representative study.

The American psychologist·2026
Same journal

Natural disaster, social cohesion, and prosociality: A natural experiment.

The American psychologist·2026
Same journal

Practice guidelines regarding psychologists' involvement in pharmacological issues.

The American psychologist·2026
Same journal

International Competences for Undergraduate Psychology (ICUP): A constructive shift for psychology?

The American psychologist·2026
Same journal

Two dimensions of access: Availability and affordability of mental health care across the United States.

The American psychologist·2026
Same journal

Revisiting secondary antisemitism: Antisemitism as a cause, not a consequence, of ingroup-serving Holocaust distortions.

The American psychologist·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 13, 2025

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

1.1K

Evolving evolutionary psychology.

Darcia Narvaez1, David S Moore2, David C Witherington3

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame.

The American Psychologist
|November 15, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Developmental evolutionary psychology offers a more inclusive framework than narrow evolutionary psychology. This approach integrates epigenesis and developmental science for a richer understanding of human nature and plasticity.

More Related Videos

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
06:42

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

11.8K
Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning
14:38

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning

Published on: November 2, 2012

12.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 13, 2025

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

1.1K
Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
06:42

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

11.8K
Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning
14:38

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning

Published on: November 2, 2012

12.0K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The dominant "Narrow Evolutionary Psychology" (NEP) perspective is challenged for its reliance on outdated evolutionary biology and cognitive science frameworks.
  • NEP's claims of a scientific revolution are contrasted with ongoing paradigm shifts in evolutionary biology and cognitive science.
  • Existing evolutionary psychology theories may not adequately account for human plasticity, developmental processes, or deep evolutionary history.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate which evolutionary theory best serves psychological theory, research, and application.
  • To propose a more inclusive and comprehensive theoretical framework for evolutionary psychology.
  • To highlight the necessity of integrating diverse scientific fields for a robust understanding of human nature.

Main Methods:

  • Critical analysis of the theoretical underpinnings of Narrow Evolutionary Psychology (NEP).
  • Review of contemporary revolutions in evolutionary biology and cognitive science.
  • Proposal and justification of a Developmental Evolutionary Psychology Theory (DEPTH).

Main Results:

  • Narrow Evolutionary Psychology (NEP) is rooted in past orthodoxies rather than current scientific revolutions.
  • A more inclusive, developmental evolutionary psychology theory (DEPTH) is proposed as a superior alternative.
  • DEPTH acknowledges epigenesis and integrates developmental science, developmental neuroscience, anthropology, and cognitive archaeology.

Conclusions:

  • Psychological theories must embrace plasticity, evolved developmental niche, and deep history to be valuable.
  • DEPTH provides a more suitable framework for understanding human nature and development.
  • Integrating insights from developmental neuroscience, anthropology, and cognitive archaeology is crucial for psychological advancement.