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Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Friday, July 1, 2011
Could there be Evolutionary Advantages of Homosexuality?
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| For Photo Credit see Sources Section |
While tests on this model have not yet found any conclusive evidence the hypothesis is unique and intriguing.
In another article by Kenrick (2010) an additional observation is explained. It has been observed that homosexual individuals are notoriously more promiscuous than their heterosexual counterparts (please pardon my stereotyping, but this is looking at averages). Because homosexuality is highly heritable it could be beneficial to the relatives of an homosexual individual. In other words, the relatives of a homosexual individual likely have more sexual desires than people without homosexual relatives. This sex drive often relates to more children and the genes are then passed on (which indirectly passes down the homosexual individual's genes as well). (para 10).
This concept is not the same as the hypothesis that homosexual people invest resources in their relatives' offspring, also known as alloparenting (which was explained in both articles). This idea suggested that people of the homosexual orientation invest resources in the children of their relatives, which would help perpetuate their own genes indirectly. This hypothesis has lost credibility over time for several reasons. When it was tested, homosexual individuals were not shown to have better parenting skills than heterosexuals, which one would expect if the hypothesis were true. Additionally, common sense dictates that since the desire to mate is a mechanism of reproduction, people who would be focused on rearing others' children would not be interested in mating at all and thus would be asexual, not homosexual.
My Thoughts
Thinking about the current world population (307.007 million people live in the US alone-see sources), homosexuality seems that it could help reduce the current world population, which could be natural selection doing its own work to prevent us from making ourselves go extinct. On the other hand, the increased promiscuity that was explained above could be increasing the world's population just the same. It's hard to say if homosexual individuals really affect the population number or not. Would be an interesting area of further research I think.
Sources:
Causey, K.; & Goetz, A.. (2009, June 10). The 'Johnny Depp Effect'-An evolutionary explanation for homosexuality. Psychology Today, A Natural History of the Modern Mind. Retrieved from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/natural-history-the-modern-mind/200906/the-johnny-depp-effect-evolutionary-explanation-homosexu
Kenrick, Douglas T.. (2010, June 9). Homosexuality: A queer problem. Psychology Today; Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life. Retrieved from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sex-murder-and-the-meaning-life/201006/homosexuality-queer-problem
Public Data for US Population. Retrieved from: http://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=kf7tgg1uo9ude_&met_y=population&tdim=true&dl=en&hl=en&q=over+population
Photo Credits:
Thursday, June 30, 2011
IQ
IQ scores are amusing to me now, mostly because they really only seem to provide bragging rights and a way to compare oneself against others. That being said, whenever someone brings up the topic of IQ I always have a strong urge to blurt out the score I received at 17 years old (ahem... 136) - proving I am by no means immune to arrogance, even if it is irrelevant.
Today I was readying an article that sent me to an about.com link for IQ scores (view here), and thought it would be a wonderful reference to launch from. Thus, today's topic will be about IQ.
Why we have IQ scores:
Back in the 1950's the French government decided they wanted a way to help "slow learners," so a French psychologist named Alfred Binet and his colleagues took on the task (Durand and Barlow, 2010, p.81). The Intelligence quotient (IQ) test was born and its purpose was to determine how a child scored in comparison to other children of the same age group. If a child was below the average score of 100, then it was estimated that their school performance would be less than average, so remedial assistance may help the child.
So how did we get from a test that measured academic performance in children to the idea that it somehow measures a person's knowledge - or even more extreme, that is measures someone's worth?
Honestly, I'm a little disgusted after doing some research. The internet is full of "definitions" about an IQ test. "You too can be a genius! Just take this memory enhancing drug," or "Subscribe to find out how!" "Get an IQ score of over 180!" Most of the websites that attempt to provide information seem reputable until you scroll down and see that they are trying to sell you something. Even the website that led me to this photo was trying to sell a video that increases IQ.
I also found an over abundance of free online IQ tests. Now, you can take an IQ online in minutes! To prove said point, I took a free online IQ test here, (I wouldn't recommend putting in anything except your email unless you want them to contact you).* My score there was 148. Apparently my societal value just skyrocketed. I don't know about you, but if you can determine my educational capacity in 4 easy steps, there's probably something flawed with your test. Keeping in mind the purpose of the IQ test, I probably should have a higher score than most people my age because I'm currently attending college. I'm not so sure about 148, but I should be above average.
So, the IQ test nonsense is out there floating around and it will be for quite some time, but maybe you will have a bit more understanding of its purpose and origin. The next time a friend brags about their IQ score you can congratulate them on their academic potential according to whatever 10 minute online assessment they used.
What is Intelligence?
I'll conclude with this thought. According to the Intelligence Quotient, Intelligence is academic potential when rated against others of the same age. I do not accept that definition, like many others. What do you think intelligence is? How can it be measured? I wonder if we should come up with a Common Sense Quotient or CSQ. I think that would be a more accurate measure of actual intelligence.
Today I was readying an article that sent me to an about.com link for IQ scores (view here), and thought it would be a wonderful reference to launch from. Thus, today's topic will be about IQ.
Why we have IQ scores:
Back in the 1950's the French government decided they wanted a way to help "slow learners," so a French psychologist named Alfred Binet and his colleagues took on the task (Durand and Barlow, 2010, p.81). The Intelligence quotient (IQ) test was born and its purpose was to determine how a child scored in comparison to other children of the same age group. If a child was below the average score of 100, then it was estimated that their school performance would be less than average, so remedial assistance may help the child.
So how did we get from a test that measured academic performance in children to the idea that it somehow measures a person's knowledge - or even more extreme, that is measures someone's worth?
 | ||
| A unique and comprehensive concept. Perhaps we should start looking more at someone's Emotional Quotient, rather than their Intelligence Quotient. Photo credits-see bottom of post. |
I also found an over abundance of free online IQ tests. Now, you can take an IQ online in minutes! To prove said point, I took a free online IQ test here, (I wouldn't recommend putting in anything except your email unless you want them to contact you).* My score there was 148. Apparently my societal value just skyrocketed. I don't know about you, but if you can determine my educational capacity in 4 easy steps, there's probably something flawed with your test. Keeping in mind the purpose of the IQ test, I probably should have a higher score than most people my age because I'm currently attending college. I'm not so sure about 148, but I should be above average.
So, the IQ test nonsense is out there floating around and it will be for quite some time, but maybe you will have a bit more understanding of its purpose and origin. The next time a friend brags about their IQ score you can congratulate them on their academic potential according to whatever 10 minute online assessment they used.
What is Intelligence?
I'll conclude with this thought. According to the Intelligence Quotient, Intelligence is academic potential when rated against others of the same age. I do not accept that definition, like many others. What do you think intelligence is? How can it be measured? I wonder if we should come up with a Common Sense Quotient or CSQ. I think that would be a more accurate measure of actual intelligence.
*I don't have any affiliation with this website and am not responsible for spam or other consequences that come with this site if you chose to take the test.
Source:
Durand, V. Mark; & Barlow, David H.. (2010). Essentials of Abnormal Psychology (5th Ed). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Photo Source:
Ling, L. (2011, April 4). Improve Emotional Intelligence and IQ?. Increase IQ Fast. Retrieved June 30, 2011. From: http://www.increaseiqfast.com/
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Default Mode Network
A particular topic of interest to me as of late is the Default Network, or Default Mode Network (DMN) - as I have more commonly heard it. It seemed fitting to write something about it, since it's been on my mind... haha... get it... anyway.
Here's some general information about the Default Mode Network that I have found interesting and informative.
Structure of the DMN:
For a long time, it was assumed that various parts of the brain just stopped functioning and there was essentially a great deal less brain activity when someone enters their daydreaming world. More recently, however, cognitive researchers are discovering that this previous belief is incorrect. When parts of the brain stop functioning, new areas become active. These areas are now being identified as the Default Mode Network. While the areas are under debate, there is a general acceptance that the Posterior Cingulate Cortex (seen in photo) plays a key role. The Posterior Cingulate Cortex is involved in human awareness and retrieval of episodic memory. There is also some speculation that it may help us understand what other people are thinking/what they believe and value, which would make sense considering its involvement in a daydream network. Another area involved in the DMN is the Medial Prefrontal Cortex.
This region of the brain is involved in decision making and social behavior (among other things). Additionally, there are regions in the Parietal lobes that are implicated in the DMN. The Parietal lobe deals with sensory perception and comprehension.
Interesting information, certainly, but what does this all really mean? Researchers are starting to look into the applications of the DMN in many aspects of life. I've gathered a small fraction of this research and decided to share it here.
Happiness Level and its relation to the DMN:
Most people have experienced a time where they were completely absorbed in an enjoyable task and time just flew by. For those who can recall this feeling, this seems to be a moment of ultimate happiness and fulfillment. During these times, the DMN has shut down and other regions of the brain are active. Conversely, most people have also experienced a time when they were bored and unable to focus on anything because their mind would "wander." Those times would be an example of when the Default Mode Network is very active. Generally, when the DMN is active, the daydreams aren't the most pleasant. Human beings think about concerns and replay scenarios, wondering what they could have and should have done differently. According to Westly (2011), when participants in a Harvard study reported that their thoughts were wandering, their mood was lower than when they were distracted with something that required mental processing (pp. 9).
What could this mean for mental health? Well, when it comes to depression it could mean that people who are depressed have a more active DMN than people who aren't. People who have a melancholic outlook on life may not have much to distract them in life, or at least enough to get their full attention, so their DMN is more active. It's not clear is this structure int he brain is influencing depression or if it might be the other way around, but there does seem to be a correlation that could use some further investigation. Healy (2010) explains that there might be some relation to other psychiatric disorders, such as PTSD, schizophrenia, and autism. Further research on the DMN could prove helpful to diagnoses of these disorders and potentially others as well.
Childhood Development:
I'm sure a lot of you would agree with the suggestion that there are few things more annoying than someone else's screaming child in the grocery store or a restaurant. I've always thought of it mostly s poor parenting skills, but my theory may not be entirely correct. According to Labr (2011), researchers are finding that the Default Mode Network is not developed in children, until about age 13. A study was performed by the Georgetown University Medical Center that measured arousal in the brain of participants while they were inside an fMRI. The participants (ages six to 27) were instructed to participate in a simple game while in the machine that required them to mentally search for an anomaly in a photo. What the researchers were looking for, however, was what happened in the brain while the participants were not playing the game. In the adolescents and adults, certain areas, which we now identify as the DMN, become active when they were allowing their thoughts to wander and daydream. In children, however, these areas were not active, implying that the DMN had not yet developed (pp.14).
Since children haven't fully developed the DMN, they likely cannot understand that their behavior is socially unacceptable. They aren't able to see themselves in the scenario, and therefore are not uncomfortable acting out.
But, if I may defend my own theory of poor parenting- while the children aren't able to understand that their behavior is socially unacceptable, they should be able to comprehend that a parent would disapprove of the behavior. Regardless of their view of the world, consequences can be comprehended, and outrageous behavior seems like it could still be avoided, if not reduced (but those are just my thoughts).
So, what does all of this really mean for us?
Daydreaming has its benefits (namely sparking creativity and providing motivation for the future), but it can also have consequences (like distractions and becoming preoccupied with a time other than the present). When you truly find something that grabs your attention, time goes by quickly and you can truly enjoy living in the moment. If you have experienced this, you know how appealing that glimpse of time was. It's possible you may even find yourself day dreaming about that activity or point in time.
Happiness is a difficult thing to define, but I believe it is when the Default Mode Network is completely shut down. For me, I find happiness in moments where I can emerge myself in research. Case in point, it's after 2:00am right now, but I'm wide awake and keep writing even though my readers are probably about ready for me to stop.
So, understanding the DMN a bit more may help us understand a bit more about happiness, which is what we all really want, right?
I'm sure I'll have more on this topic in the future.
Cheers!
Here's some general information about the Default Mode Network that I have found interesting and informative.
Structure of the DMN:
 |
| Left and Right Inferior Parietal Lobes, Posterior Cingulate Cortex, and the Medial Prefrontal Cortex. Photo from ScienceNews. Korenblat, |
This region of the brain is involved in decision making and social behavior (among other things). Additionally, there are regions in the Parietal lobes that are implicated in the DMN. The Parietal lobe deals with sensory perception and comprehension.
Interesting information, certainly, but what does this all really mean? Researchers are starting to look into the applications of the DMN in many aspects of life. I've gathered a small fraction of this research and decided to share it here.
Happiness Level and its relation to the DMN:
Most people have experienced a time where they were completely absorbed in an enjoyable task and time just flew by. For those who can recall this feeling, this seems to be a moment of ultimate happiness and fulfillment. During these times, the DMN has shut down and other regions of the brain are active. Conversely, most people have also experienced a time when they were bored and unable to focus on anything because their mind would "wander." Those times would be an example of when the Default Mode Network is very active. Generally, when the DMN is active, the daydreams aren't the most pleasant. Human beings think about concerns and replay scenarios, wondering what they could have and should have done differently. According to Westly (2011), when participants in a Harvard study reported that their thoughts were wandering, their mood was lower than when they were distracted with something that required mental processing (pp. 9).
What could this mean for mental health? Well, when it comes to depression it could mean that people who are depressed have a more active DMN than people who aren't. People who have a melancholic outlook on life may not have much to distract them in life, or at least enough to get their full attention, so their DMN is more active. It's not clear is this structure int he brain is influencing depression or if it might be the other way around, but there does seem to be a correlation that could use some further investigation. Healy (2010) explains that there might be some relation to other psychiatric disorders, such as PTSD, schizophrenia, and autism. Further research on the DMN could prove helpful to diagnoses of these disorders and potentially others as well.
Childhood Development:
I'm sure a lot of you would agree with the suggestion that there are few things more annoying than someone else's screaming child in the grocery store or a restaurant. I've always thought of it mostly s poor parenting skills, but my theory may not be entirely correct. According to Labr (2011), researchers are finding that the Default Mode Network is not developed in children, until about age 13. A study was performed by the Georgetown University Medical Center that measured arousal in the brain of participants while they were inside an fMRI. The participants (ages six to 27) were instructed to participate in a simple game while in the machine that required them to mentally search for an anomaly in a photo. What the researchers were looking for, however, was what happened in the brain while the participants were not playing the game. In the adolescents and adults, certain areas, which we now identify as the DMN, become active when they were allowing their thoughts to wander and daydream. In children, however, these areas were not active, implying that the DMN had not yet developed (pp.14).
 |
| See sources for photo credit |
Since children haven't fully developed the DMN, they likely cannot understand that their behavior is socially unacceptable. They aren't able to see themselves in the scenario, and therefore are not uncomfortable acting out.
But, if I may defend my own theory of poor parenting- while the children aren't able to understand that their behavior is socially unacceptable, they should be able to comprehend that a parent would disapprove of the behavior. Regardless of their view of the world, consequences can be comprehended, and outrageous behavior seems like it could still be avoided, if not reduced (but those are just my thoughts).
So, what does all of this really mean for us?
Daydreaming has its benefits (namely sparking creativity and providing motivation for the future), but it can also have consequences (like distractions and becoming preoccupied with a time other than the present). When you truly find something that grabs your attention, time goes by quickly and you can truly enjoy living in the moment. If you have experienced this, you know how appealing that glimpse of time was. It's possible you may even find yourself day dreaming about that activity or point in time.
Happiness is a difficult thing to define, but I believe it is when the Default Mode Network is completely shut down. For me, I find happiness in moments where I can emerge myself in research. Case in point, it's after 2:00am right now, but I'm wide awake and keep writing even though my readers are probably about ready for me to stop.
So, understanding the DMN a bit more may help us understand a bit more about happiness, which is what we all really want, right?
I'm sure I'll have more on this topic in the future.
Cheers!
Sources:
- Healy, M. (2010, August 30). Brain's Default Mode Network May Hold Key to Better Psychiatric Diagnosis. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 23, 2011, From: http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-brain-side-20100830,0,5044867.story
- Jabr, F. (2011, March/April). Blissfully Unaware. Scientific American Mind, 14.
- Westly, E. (2011, March/April). Lose Focus, Lose Happiness. Scientific American Mind, 9.
Photo Credits:
- Korenblat, J. (2009, July 18). Wandering and Wondering. ScienceNews, vol. 176 #2. Retrieved June 23, 2011, From: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/access/id/45263/title/Wandering_and_wondering_
- Thedeets. (2007, April 20). Reactionary Grocery Store Signs. The Deets. Retrieved June 23, 2011. From: http://www.thedeets.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/466169614_3cb9c6e4b8.jpg
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