Using evidence drawn from Chapter 2 explain how theory of mind may have evolved in humans and what its adaptive function might be.

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Part I: Essay: Evolutionary psychologists are interested in how particular abilities such as theory of mind arose and in particular how they contribute to an individual’s fitness. Using evidence drawn from Chapter 2 explain how theory of mind may have evolved in humans and what its adaptive function might be.

Evolutionary psychologists focus on ultimate explanations searching for evidence to explain why a psychological characteristic arose and how it gets transmitted through generations. This also applies when defining theory of mind. Using a mixture of existing data and evidence from different disciplines this essay will explain how theory of mind may have evolved in humans and what its adaptive function might be. The variety of methods and data used by evolutionary psychologists helps picture the evolution of theory of mind from its origins to the highly complex cognitive ability it is today.

From an evolutionary perspective, theory of mind arose from a long period of evolution during which it was shaped by selective forces and random genetic events (Clegg, 2007). Evidence from studies carried out with children shows that it is universal, which suggests that it might be an evolved adaptation (Clegg, 2007). However, this statement has been criticized due to the complexity and flexibility of human behaviour which can only approach universality (as cited in Clegg, 2007, p.112).  

Throughout evolution humans developed and passed on the next generations the genes for physical and psychological traits that enhanced survival and/or reproduction. Individuals have always competed for resources and/or reproductive success and some variations of a trait give competitive advantages over others. Thereby, those genes associated with the adaptive traits survived and were transmitted by natural selection (Duntley, 2005). Once passed on, theory of mind also helped individuals increase the access to the quality and quantity of mates and thereby improve their reproductive success (Clegg, 2007). Genetic transmission and mutations allow an immense diversity of behavioural, physiological and structural traits within individuals, therefore theory of mind evolved as a product of the strong link between environment and genes (Clegg, 2007).

Fossils suggest evidence of the origins and evolution of theory of mind. The increase of brain size and cerebral areas related to learning and language serve as example of how this cognitive ability gradually developed to solve more complex social problems (as cited in Clegg, 2007, p.131).  Fossilised animal remains suggest evidence of cooperative hunting and communication between early humans. Archaeological artefacts such as signs of burial rituals also provide insights into its evolution. This demonstrates how early humans pretended and imagined to a degree that requires this full cognitive ability (Clegg, 2007). Along with fossilised evidence, investigations of the social, emotional, and cognitive abilities of chimpanzees and their development provide relevant insights into human behaviour and contribute to the understanding of when theory of mind appeared and how it evolved (Bjorklund & Pellegrini, 2002). Particular aspects of theory of mind in apes, such as the ability to deceive, suggest that it may also have been present in early hominoids at a lower level. Absence of a full theory of mind in chimpanzees suggests that it evolved fully after the first humans emerged around 6 million years ago (Clegg, 2007). However, it should be considered that humans might have an influence on animal studies and that chimpanzees have also evolved and cannot be seen as completely equivalent to their ancestors (Clegg, 2007).

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The evolutionary theory presents good ultimate explanations for the possible origins of psychological phenomena like theory of mind and how it evolved to its current high level of complexity. However, this theory has been criticized for focusing too much on biological and genetic aspects without giving enough attention to socio-cultural environments. The evolutionary approach counterbalances these critiques supporting the idea that the mind has evolved an ability to generate and transmit cultural behaviours (Clegg, 2007).

Not only the evolution but also the adaptive function of theory of mind is relevant to evolutionary psychologists. Humans are highly social and ...

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