Evolutionary Psychology, Public Policy and Personal Decisions

392 Pages·2004·21.19 MB·English

by  Charles Crawford, Catherine Salmon

Evolutionary Psychology,
Public Policy
ana Personal Decisions
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Evolutionary Psychology,
Public Policy
and Personal Decisions
Edited by
Charles Crawford
Department of Psychology
Simon Fraser University
Catherine Salmon
Department of Psychology
University of Redlands
LAWRENCE ERLBAUM ASSOCIATES, PUBLISHERS
2004 Mahwah, New Jersey London
Copyright © 2004 by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in
any form, by photostat, microfilm, retrieval system, or any other
means, without prior written permission of the publisher.
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Inc., Publishers
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah. New Jersey 07430
Cover design by Kathryn Houghtaling Lacey
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Evolutionary psychology, public policy and personal decisions /
edited by Charles Crawford. Catherine Salmon.
p. cm.
Sequel to: Handbook of evolutionary psychology.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8058-4377-9 (cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN 0-8058-4946-7 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Evolutionary psychology. I. Crawford, Charles (Charles B.)
II. Salmon. Catherine.
BF698.95.E96 2004
155.7—dc21 2003054726
CIP
Books published by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates are printed on acid-
free paper, and their bindings are chosen for strength and durability.
Printed in the United States of America
1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Preface IX
Part I: Methodological and Philosophic
Considerations
1 Public Policy and Personal Decisions: 3
The Evolutionary Context
Charles Crawford
2 The Essence of Evolutionary Psychology: 23
An Introduction
Charles Crawford & Catherine Salmon
3 Beyond Sociobiology: A Kinder and Gentler 51
Evolutionary View of Human Nature
Maria G. Janicki
4 Darwin and Evolutionary Moral Psychology 73
Harmon Holcomb
vi COXTKXTS
Part II: Cognitive ana Aiiective
Psychological Processes
5 Mentalism and Mechanism: The Twin Modes 99
of Human Cognition
Christopher Badcock
6 Self-Deception: Helping and Hindering Public 117
and Personal Decision Making
Michele K. Surbey
7 Ancestral Emotions, Current Decisions: Using 145
Evolutionary Game Theory to Explore
the Role of Emotions in Decision Making
Timothy Ketelaar
8 Natural Law and Natural Selection: Deontic 169
Reasoning as Part of Evolved Human Nature
Laurence Fiddick
Part III: Real-World Applications
9 Marital Cooperation and Conflict 197
Margo Wilson & Martin Daly
10 The Pornography Debate: What Sex Differences 217
in Erotica Can Tell About Human Sexuality
Catherine Salmon
11 Why Don't Men Pay Child Support? Insights 231
From Evolutionary Psychology
Todd K. Shackelford & Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford
12 Evolutionary Life History Perspective on Rape 249
Randy Thornhill & Craig T. Palmer
CONTENTS
13 Women in the Workplace: Evolutionary 275
Perspectives and Public Policy
Kingsley R. Browne
14 Is Psychopathy a Pathology or a Life Strategy? 293
Implications for Social Policy
Kirsten N. Barr & Vernon L. Quinsey
15 Cultivating Morality and Constructing Moral 319
Systems: How to Make Silk Purses From
Sows' Ears
Dennis L. Krebs
16 Darwinism and Public Policy: The View 343
From Political Science
Robert S. Robins
Author Index 353
Subject Index 365
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ace
During the last 15 years, empirical and theoretical scientists and scholars
have produced considerable empirical and theoretical knowledge on how Dar-
win's theory of evolution by natural selection can be used in the study of human be-
havior. So far, this knowledge has had little impact on policymakers and
legislators. Lawmakers, Supreme Court justices, and managers seldom consult
evolutionary psychologists to help with their deliberations. When faced with per-
sonal decisions, few individuals ask themselves how a Darwinian perspective
might help them. The aim of this volume is to start the process of using the theories
and findings of evolutionary psychology to help make the world a better place to
live in, as well as to help people adjust to and deal with the realities of their evolved
human nature.
There are many conceptions of public policy. In this book, public policies mean
laws enacted by legislative bodies, judicial interpretations of these laws and ad-
ministrative procedures designed to implement them, as well as policies devised
by corporations, public and private institutions, unions, and professional societies
that enable them to conform to laws and their interpretations. Personal decisions
are those that enable the ongoing behavior of individuals as they go about their
daily lives, making friends, doing their jobs, finding mates, caring for their chil-
dren, planning holidays, going to the movies, or scheming for advantage. Many
factors (e.g., ability, financial resources, customs, and gender) constrain personal
decisions. In state societies, public policies are one of the major constraints on per-
sonal decisions.