PSY 397 Psychology of the Arts
Knapp
Study Guide 1
Evolutionary Psychology of the Arts
Today we’ll examine what evolution is, what evolutionary psychology is, and how psychologists
have looked at art through an evolutionary perspective.
1. What is evolution? Make sure your answer discusses heredity, variation, and natural
selection. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_evolution )
2. What is the evolutionary theory of common descent and what does it suggest about the
relationship between humans and non-human animals?
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_descent )
3. Does art uniquely distinguish humans from other species?
(http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/02/animal-art/ )
4. How about music? (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/01/0105biomusic.html )
5. What is evolution? (check out
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_evolution#Simple_overview )Your answer
should include the following terms.
a. Adaptation (http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/IIIE5Adaptation.shtml )
b. Fitness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitness_(biology) )
c. Heredity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heredity )
d. Variation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_diversity )
e. Natural Selection
(http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/IIIENaturalSelection.shtml )
f. Sexual Selection
(http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/IIIE3Sexualselection.shtml )
6. What is evolutionary psychology? (http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/projects/human/epfaq/ep.html )
Ok. Now let’s try to address some interesting questions about artistic adaptations. Note, if we’re
talking about adaptations, the solution must be addressing some evolutionary problem related to
fitness. Thus, your answers should consider the following questions in light of fitness. Also,
check out the following sources for various takes on evolutionary psychological perspective on
art.

http://jezebel.com/5190547/is-art-adaptive-the-evolution-of-creativity
PSY 397 Psychology of the Arts
Knapp
Study Guide 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PktUzdnBqWI

http://www.jstor.org/stable/1559195

http://ndpr.nd.edu/news/41600-the-artful-species-aesthetics-art-and-evolution/

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/science/27angi.html

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/neilmccormick/9434563/Evolution_of_Music/
7. Is our appreciation of art adaptive? If so, how? If not, why not?
8. How about the creation of art?
9. How about abilities that underlie our ability to create and/or appreciate art? Think beyond the
abilities that were mentioned in the above sources. Be creative!