Evolutionary psychology is the study of the evolution behavior and mind. This type of psychology challenges the views of other psychologists relating to the views of human nature, and humanity’s place in nature.
One question posed throughout the years is, what makes us human? More specially, what differentiates us from animals? Most people would find that the comparison between humans and animals is demeaning, going into insulting. This is hardly a new question though. The problem with answering a question like this is addressing both similarity and uniqueness. Humans are both similar to, and unique from animals. Focus on one side of the augment creates a dangerous ignorance to the man or woman listening. Evolutionary psychology seeks to fix this ignorance dilemma.
Some psychologists are wary of evolutionary psychology, saying that it seeks to take over psychology as a whole. Evolutionary psychologist, on the other hand, stay they seek to show how humans came to be and what is special about them. The problem with this is that Evolutionary psychology does not seem to answer the second part of its claim. We could say that language makes us special, but monkeys are able to learn simple signs in order to communicate with each other. Birds are special for their ability of flight, and fish are special for their ability to breathe in water, separate the oxygen from the water, and stay alive, but what is special about us? Evolutionary psychology as a whole seems to be mum on that point.
When observing the similarities between primates and humans, it is tempting to say that we are no more than a sophisticated version of the former. In doing so, we seem to ignore the ethical, moral, and religious aspects of humans. Christians should not be dismayed at this narrowing gap between human and primate. If Christians were more discerning, they could pick out the pointers in these types of studies that show the greatness of our creator. We should be able to draw on these studies to further the betterment of humankind.
Evolutionary psychology also studies altruism. This self-giving is not just found in humans, but is widespread to the corners of the animal kingdom. It is also not a “rigidly determined, but (is) something that happens moment to moment.” (37) Knowing this should not discourage Christians. The evidence of self-giving shown in primates does not compare to Christ’s sacrifice for the world.
In closing, we should not be worried about the study of animal behavior. Similarities do mean we are identical and animal intelligence and altruism is little compared to ours, and nothing more than a “pale reminder of God’s love and intelligence.”(38)
This was an interesting chapter, though I feel it did not prove anything. It seemed to say evolution has no proof that there is no God, and that we are no more than a sophisticated type of animal, but it did not say one important fact. When comparing ideas, in any form, you must present both the positives and the negatives of both. Just like evolution has no proof that it took place, neither do we. No one was there during the act of creation, thus no one knows what happened, nor can we recreate it. Christians would say that the Bible is our proof that God created the earth, but the problem is that the book of Genesis is written by Moses several thousand years after the fall of man. Instead of saying “do not worry about it, their wrong,” we should both admit that these are theories. We don’t know. We can believe there is a God, and that he sent his son down to make recompense for our sins, but we really don’t know what happened during creation. Both are theories, and both are accepted by faith.
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