Scientists look at how animals and humans have evolved physically overtime.

Now, when combining evolution with psychology we can look at how the human mind
has evolved and more importantly why it has evolved.
The study of how human nature has evolved overtime is called evolutionary
psychology. Evolutionary psychology views human nature as the product of a universal
set of evolved psychological adaptions to recurring problems in the ancestral
environment (Evolutionary psychology, 3).
The evolution of the brain and human nature are due to environmental and
human interactions. This is shown in the six core principles of evolutionary psychology.
The first principle explains how the brains purpose is to process information and as a
result it responds to external and internal stimuli. This connects to the fourth principle
saying that, modern humans have brains that have evolved after problems have
recurred time and time again over long periods of time (Scoville, 5). Human minds have
evolved because when we are faced with a problem our brain reacts and produces a
solution whether it is a good one or a bad one. When we are faced with the same
problem and we produce same solution or response it becomes a habit and eventually it
is passed down generations so that everyone will most likely react the same way. For
example when someone sees a spider the brain automatically sees it as a danger. This
is because the brain has evolved to see the spider as a threat. This response is the only
one the brain has known or been taught. Therefore their kids will be taught to see them
as a threat which means their kids kids will see them as a threat as well. As shown in
figure 1 through natural selection our genes were chosen. As we are impacted by our
environment and as we grow and develop we gain knowledge and make a mental
action based on that knowledge. As we are continually impacted by our environment
and the knowledge we gain through our thoughts, experiences, and senses our
behavior is formed (figure 1).
Evolutionary psychology has been important in the survival of mankind. All
throughout history humans have been able to adapt to their environment and learn how
to use their surroundings to survive. They have been able to create and invent and
when doing this they are continually evolving. Thinking in new ways and acting in new
ways, creating different languages, and learning how to interact with others are all apart
of evolutionary psychology. The theory of evolution lends itself to several areas where
psychological adaptations must occur in order for species to develop. The first is basic
survival skills like consciousness, responding to stimuli, learning and motivation.
Emotions and personality also fall into this category, although their evolution is much
more complex than basic instinctual survival skills. The use of language is also linked as
a survival skill on the evolutionary scale within psychology, (Scoville, 6).
In conclusion evolutionary psychology is the study of how the brain has evolved.
It is important to learn what has changed, how its evolved, and why it is important that
the brain has evolved.






Figure 1

Sources
1. Scoville, Heather. "Evolutionary Psychology." About.com Evolution. Web.20 May
2014. <http://evolution.about.com/od/Evolution-Glossary/g/Evolutionary-
Psychology.htm>.
2. "Evolutionary Psychology." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 May
2014. Web. 20 May 2014.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_psychology>.
3. "Evolutionary Psychology." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily. Web. 20 May
2014. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/e/
evolutionary_psychology.htm>.