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Author |
Nettle, D. |
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Title |
The evolution of personality variation in humans and other animals |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2006 |
Publication |
The American Psychologist |
Abbreviated Journal |
Am Psychol |
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Volume |
61 |
Issue |
6 |
Pages |
622-631 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Birds; *Evolution; Female; Fishes; Humans; Insects; Male; Personality/*genetics/*physiology |
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Abstract |
A comprehensive evolutionary framework for understanding the maintenance of heritable behavioral variation in humans is yet to be developed. Some evolutionary psychologists have argued that heritable variation will not be found in important, fitness-relevant characteristics because of the winnowing effect of natural selection. This article propounds the opposite view. Heritable variation is ubiquitous in all species, and there are a number of frameworks for understanding its persistence. The author argues that each of the Big Five dimensions of human personality can be seen as the result of a trade-off between different fitness costs and benefits. As there is no unconditionally optimal value of these trade-offs, it is to be expected that genetic diversity will be retained in the population. |
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Address |
University of Newcastle, Newcastle, United Kingdom. daniel.nettle@ncl.ac.uk |
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0003-066X |
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PMID:16953749 |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4105 |
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Author |
Neuringer, A. |
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Title |
Reinforced variability in animals and people: implications for adaptive action |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2004 |
Publication |
The American Psychologist |
Abbreviated Journal |
Am Psychol |
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Volume |
59 |
Issue |
9 |
Pages |
891-906 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Behavior, Animal; *Choice Behavior; Conditioning, Operant; Creativeness; Discrimination (Psychology); Humans; Memory; Problem Solving; *Reinforcement (Psychology) |
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Abstract |
Although reinforcement often leads to repetitive, even stereotyped responding, that is not a necessary outcome. When it depends on variations, reinforcement results in responding that is diverse, novel, indeed unpredictable, with distributions sometimes approaching those of a random process. This article reviews evidence for the powerful and precise control by reinforcement over behavioral variability, evidence obtained from human and animal-model studies, and implications of such control. For example, reinforcement of variability facilitates learning of complex new responses, aids problem solving, and may contribute to creativity. Depression and autism are characterized by abnormally repetitive behaviors, but individuals afflicted with such psychopathologies can learn to vary their behaviors when reinforced for so doing. And reinforced variability may help to solve a basic puzzle concerning the nature of voluntary action. |
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Department of Psychology, Reed College, Portland, OR 97202, USA. allen.neuringer@reed.edu |
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0003-066X |
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PMID:15584823 |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4106 |
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