Dennis4 said:Doing a search, I found the actual American Psychological Association research paper itself, free to download and read: http://taxa.epi.umn.edu/~mbmiller/journals/pppl/200504/
Evo said:I think it's a rehash of the same racially biased stuff from the same racially biased people. We've discussed this stuff ad nauseum here and it's like religion, no point arguing about it, you're not going to change anyone's mind on either side of the fence.
Evo said:No offense was intended to you SA, I apologize, I should have been more specific, and a person can agree with their findings without being racist, but honestly, it is a widely held opinion of them for various reasons and Rushton certainly does have an agenda.
I do think Jensen is not to be lumped in wholesale with the likes of Rushton though. Jensen, in my opinion, is of a higher caliber and I do find a lot of his work was well done.
I have read many of the papers referenced and the papers that have debunked them and I tend to see flaws on both sides, the methods used in many of the papers cited, however, do tend to have questionable results.
Evolutionary theory is a scientific explanation for how species change over time through the process of natural selection. It is based on the idea that individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits onto their offspring. This theory also applies to cognition and behavior, as these traits are also subject to natural selection and can be influenced by evolutionary processes.
Evolutionary theory proposes that cognition and behavior have evolved over time to adapt to different environments and aid in survival and reproduction. For example, the ability to problem solve and make decisions has been favored by natural selection as it increases an individual's chances of finding food and avoiding danger.
There is a considerable amount of evidence from various fields, including biology, psychology, and anthropology, that supports the role of evolution in shaping cognition and behavior. For instance, comparative studies of different species have shown that similar cognitive abilities and behaviors can be traced back to a common ancestor, suggesting an evolutionary origin. Additionally, studies on human behavior have found that certain behaviors, such as altruism and mate selection, have evolved to increase the chances of survival and reproduction.
While evolutionary theory is widely accepted, there are some criticisms and alternative theories. One criticism is that it is difficult to test and validate evolutionary hypotheses. Some alternative theories propose that cognition and behavior are primarily influenced by environmental factors, rather than evolutionary processes.
Evolutionary theory has greatly influenced our understanding of human nature by highlighting the role of natural selection and adaptation in shaping our cognition and behavior. It has also led to a better understanding of why humans have certain traits and behaviors, such as social behavior and language, which have been favored by natural selection for their survival and reproductive benefits.