Question

Which statement accurately identifies a shortcoming of evolutionary psychology?

A) Evolutionary psychology is limited by its exclusive focus on genetic factors.
B) Evolutionary psychology struggles to explain contemporary behaviors that may not have evolved.
C) Evolutionary psychology is only applicable to non-human species.
D) Evolutionary psychology ignores the role of cultural influences on behavior.

Answer 1

Evolutionary psychology's shortcoming lies in its struggle to explain current behaviors that may not have evolved, and the difficulty of proving a genetic basis for such behaviors.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that accurately identifies a shortcoming of evolutionary psychology is B) Evolutionary psychology struggles to explain contemporary behaviors that may not have evolved. One of the core challenges within evolutionary psychology is making predictions about current behavioral adaptiveness based on traits that evolved under historical environmental conditions. Since the social and environmental contexts of ancient human history are not fully understood, it is difficult to conclude that a behavior observed today was adaptive in the past and has a genetic basis. Additionally, evolutionary psychology often assumes genetic influences on behavior, yet demonstrating that a trait is naturally selected in humans is remarkably challenging. This can lead to an underappreciation of the role of culture and immediate environmental factors in shaping behavior.