Evolutionary psychologists believe that we can only understand how a cognitive system works if we understand how evolutionary forces shaped the system in certain directions.

Evolutionary Psychologists

Specialists in a field that applies evolutionary theory to understand the human mind and behavior, focusing on how evolutionary principles explain psychological traits.

Cognitive System

A system of mental processes that includes perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning, responsible for thought and learning.

Evolutionary Forces

Processes such as natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow that contribute to the changes in the genetic composition of populations over time.