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Evolutionary theory and personality
Anthony A Volk1, Alexandra Puchalski2
1Department of Child and Youth Studies, Brock University, Canada.
None:
Personality is the result of a combination of environmental and genetic influences. Thus, there is a natural match between evolutionary theory and personality theory. However, the top-down application of evolutionary theory to personality has largely taken a back seat to bottom-up data driven approaches. We outline three hypotheses that can help inform the application of evolutionary theory to the study of personality: the importance of past environments in promoting current adaptations; the trade-offs associated with different trait levels that foster individual differences; and the adaptive calibration of individual personalities to specific environmental and genetic confluences. We offer examples of each of these in the hopes that they can help promote a greater integration of top-down evolutionary thinking in personality research.
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