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Adaptations, exaptations, and spandrels

D M Buss1, M G Haselton, T K Shackelford

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin 78712, USA. dbuss@psy.utexas.edu

The American Psychologist
|June 5, 1998
PubMed
Summary
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Evolutionary psychology explores adaptations and natural selection. It examines whether features like art and language are adaptations or exaptations, crucial for understanding human evolution.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Adaptation and natural selection are foundational to evolutionary psychology.
  • Complex organic mechanisms arise from natural selection.
  • Exaptations and spandrels, features co-opted for new uses, are proposed as significant evolutionary concepts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline conceptual and evidentiary standards for adaptations, exaptations, and spandrels.
  • To discuss the utility of these concepts in psychological science.
  • To evaluate the role of exaptations and spandrels in evolutionary psychology.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of evolutionary theory.
  • Review of evidentiary standards for psychological adaptations.
  • Discussion of theoretical frameworks for exaptations and spandrels.

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Main Results:

  • Adaptations are products of natural selection for current function.
  • Exaptations are features co-opted for new functions.
  • Spandrels are by-products of other evolutionary developments.

Conclusions:

  • Clarifying the roles of adaptations, exaptations, and spandrels is vital for evolutionary psychology.
  • These concepts provide a framework for understanding complex human behaviors.
  • The distinction is crucial for rigorous scientific inquiry in evolutionary psychology.