Evolutionary psychologists study how evolution has shaped human behavior and cognition. They believe that many psychological traits and behaviors are adaptations that have evolved over time to increase an individual's chances of survival and reproductive success.
Related terms
Natural Selection: The process by which certain traits or behaviors become more common in a population over generations due to their beneficial effects on survival and reproduction.
Adaptation: A trait or behavior that has evolved through natural selection because it increases an organism's fitness, or ability to survive and reproduce.
Reproductive Success: The ability of an organism to pass on its genes to future generations, often measured by the number of offspring produced.