We're not the "high" animals that we think we are. :p

[firebird_88]

I promised people to share some of my Evolutionary Psychology class stuff, so here's a few interesting facts that we've learned so far. (Or were randomly brought up in class).

EDIT: If you don't believe in evolution, I do NOT want to argue about it. Just skip this post and we'll both be a lot happier.

1. All cultures have language, symbolism, a

Comments

[rufustehshinra]

1. Wow, I totally hold babies like that. I can't hold them in my right arm either, not for long, at least. It's just not possible for me to do.

2. *shakes fist* Screw you, evolution!

3. xD; Oh, boys~

I like your interesting facts. :)

[firebird_88]

1. I know! I thought it was so cool 'cause I hold babies like that too. xD It just feels better that way.

[rufustehshinra]

That's very awesome. :)

[divinestar]

1. I guess since left hands are rarely used (if you're right-handed) so it's easier to put the baby on that hand while you nurse the baby with your active hand. Interesting...does this apply to left-handed people?

2. LOL I have a feeling this is more of an excuse than instinct.

3. .......I can believe that.

[firebird_88]

1. Yep, applies to everyone. All young children do it with dolls as well, so it's not something that you really learn. It just feels better in your left hand (and I think it may have something to do with the heart calming the baby down? Not sure, we didn't go over it in class.)

2. LOL It may be, but I can believe that. We've only been 'civilized' for a few thousand years and evolution definitely hasn't caught up with us yet. We still have a few leftover mechanisms like a phobia of snakes, despite the fact that most of us don't live in a place with a lot of snakes.

[kartos]

Hahaha you mentioned holding a baby and I was thinking about my left arm. XD

[red_comet01]

Hmmm... I've heard one of my biology professors propose that humans are a species that aren't evolving to any appreciable extent. And it rather makes sense to me considering that Darwin's theory was based on several assumptions and unless they are all true it's an invalid theory. To put it briefly:
1) More individuals are born than can survive
2) Within every population is heritable variation
3) Not all individuals have an equal chance of survival
4) Successful traits are passed on and become more common
It would seem that #1 doesn't apply much to humans. We are a species that can manipulate our environment to make it so there is enough to provide for most people. True, there are sometimes famines that can kill off part of a population, but we don't really discriminate based on evolutionary traits when it comes time to distribute scarce food (i.e., #3 doesn't seem to apply much either).

[firebird_88]

I think it's waaaay too early to tell. We've only been civilized for five thousand years and evolution takes MILLIONS of years, so there's no way to say that we've stopped evolving. It's possible that we've totally messed up our own evolution because of we're medically saving people whom might have died out otherwise and/or we have technology to do everything for us, but who knows. :/

1. This is still true in less developed countries. There have been a number of reports that show that third world country women are naturally more fertile than first world country women precisely for that reason.

3. Medicine has the potential to save a lot of people whom would have otherwise died, true, but again, third world countries (or just poor areas of rich countries) where the handicapped or mentally challenged people DON'T get medical treatment, they still die out. There's no way that we can save everyone that has every disease, and disease, by definition, lowers our ability to survive.

[red_comet01]

Ummm... did I offend you with my comment?
I noticed that EDIT message went up shortly after my comment.
I didn't mean to offend you.
If you want to end this discussion, that's OK with me.

[firebird_88]

Sorry, I am a bit touchy when it comes to people thinking that evolution doesn't happen, considering the fact that biology is my major and there is a ridiculous amount of evidence out there that says that it is and will continue to happen.

It's not you personally. I'm sure your professors had a good, complex reasons with thinking that humans may not be evolving. I'm tempted to believe it myself because it feels like a logical argument, but I just think it's way too early to make such a statement. ^^;

[celestriad]

#3 has been on my mind a lot lately when i hang out with ryan. :P makes me wonder what's going on in that mind of his when we're together... but then again, thinking about that too much will probably break my brain. so... yeah, i think i'll go play some games before bed now. XP

edit: i guess it doesn't help that we've been watching eva and it has lots of fanservice, as shounen series tend to...

[firebird_88]

Very possible? ^^; I think about it when I hang out with my guy friends, but I just don't take it personally lol. And I tell them no if they ask, so they'll just go somewhere else. :/ And it's not like guys can't control it, most of them DON'T ask for sex 10 minutes into a date lol.

[celestriad]

yeah... especially considering what happened during the summer and all, i reaaally can't help but wonder what's running through his mind a lot of the time. fortunately, i haven't actually had anyone proposition me. >.>; i think any guys who know me even remotely know i would probably explode if they even tried anything like that, even as a joke.

yeah, it's true that they can still exercise some control over it, although i'm sure they don't really *want* to. :P after i explained the concept of fanservice to ryan, it seems like he goes out of his way to remind me that he's a guy and is wired to want sex all the time (that is, by his reactions to fanservice-y scenes). :P