When evolutionary psychologists use the word fitness,they are specifically referring to

A) an animal's ability to adapt to changing environments.
B) the diversity of a species' gene pool.
C) the total number of members of the species currently alive.
D) our ability to survive and reproduce.

Evolutionary psychologists use the term fitness to refer to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce. Fitness is defined by an organism's success in passing on its genes to future generations, and therefore, individuals with greater fitness are more likely to pass on their genes to their offspring. This process of natural selection leads to adaptations that better equip organisms to survive and reproduce in their environment.