Survival Processing as Function of Evolutionary Response - Essay Example

Running Head: SURVIVAL PROCESSING Survival processing as a function of evolutionary response Survival processing as a functionof evolutionary response Survival processing is defined by its nature of being relevant to the retention of information that is relevant to survival. As the human species, it can be easier to remember information that is directly associated with survival than information that is not associated with the response of a survival instinct. It has been propose that some of these responses are the result of evolutionary psychology that terms many responses as relatable to instinctual responses. In looking at studies done through quantified control circumstances in association to learning word lists, two sets of scholars have shown that evolutionary instincts can reasonably be shown as the core of how memory and instinct works together towards significant survival processing. However, through a qualitative study about the survival of romantic relationship in reference to gift giving, this concept is challenged. However, in discussing the nature of fitness survival in contrast to the survival of a social or cultural convention, it is necessary to define the difference. Social and cultural conventions have been designed for location and time period, thus evolutionary adaptations are not directly relevant to these conventions. Through an examination of survival processing as a part of adaptive memory, the nature of some responses as evolutionary adaptations show that the possibility for evolutionary instincts to be responsible for universalities in response to threats against survival is a likely explanation for survival processing, more distinctly when cultural and individual survival are defined uniquely. According to Nairne, Thompson and Pandeirada (2007) “memory systems might have evolved to help us remember fitness-relevant information - specifically, information relevant to survival” (p. 263). Memories that are associated with fear and shock will more than likely be retained longer than those memories without survival responses. An individual will remember what they need for each step in survival and make note of it, retaining it more significantly than other types of information. Adaptive memory might be considered central to processing what is needed in order to survive. Through evolutionary-function reasoning, Nairne, Thompson and Pandeirada (2007) have concluded that “Our memory systems did not develop in a vacuum: rather, our ability to remember and reconstruct the past evolve to help us solve problems, particularly problems related to survival” (271). Survival, a central instinct that is supported by processing that allows for its continuation, is based upon the evolution of adaptive memory, but also due to instinctual developments that trigger responses that are associated with survival. Evolutionary psychology makes use of the idea that that many human actions and reactions are the result of instinct, frameworks that have been inbred within the human mind through adaptations of successful survival techniques. The central contention is that “flexible human intelligence is a function of the number of instincts that people possess” (Suplizio, 2007, p. 357). Evolutionary psychology is a ‘hybrid’ of evolutionary biology and cognitive psychology, the nature of the development centered on the idea that thought processes are a matter of something beyond learned responses, but a set of responses programmed due to evolutionary techniques that have developed the human conditional framework in which culture develops its pattern of behavior (Suplizio, 2007). This suggests that while many behaviors are still learned, some very core responses are ingrained within human nature. In order to study the nature of survival processing as it relates to both memory and evolutionary psychology, Nairne, Thompson and Pandeirada (2007) used several control scenarios, including pleasantness and that of a survival scenario in which mild threat was involved. Based upon this research, Burns, Burns and Hwang (2011) have deduced that while there are other theories of how survival memories are reached, there is yet to be determined a truly viable and provable theory. In their own experiment, Burns, Burns an Hwang (2011) deduced that “Survival processing produce recall performance superior to that of category the category sorting task” (p. 210). The participants were required to rate words as they associated to survival against lists of words as they associated to pleasantness, a similar experiment to that conducted by Nairne et al (2007). Huang and Yu (2000) adapted the theory of survival processing to the gesture of giving gifts within a romantic relationship. In order to conduct the study, they used terms of qualitative study in concert with longitudinal evaluation in order to assess the use of survival processing in giving gifts in a romantic relationship. Interestingly, the results showed that gift consumption was not a predictor for a long or short relationship, but was a predictor for the impending demise of a relationship. They discovered that “The material meaning of gifts takes the risk of defining the relationship in nonromantic, less personal terms” (Huang & Yu, 2000, p. 187). Where gifts in the beginning of the relationship, during the trial period were useful in establishing attention and the intention of love, they were indicative of the end of a relationship as the participant is shifting focus from a lack of intimacy towards a show of bravado to imitate intimacy that is waning. The nature of this finding is significant in showing that the adaptive memory sustains a response (the giving of a gift) beyond the time that an emotion exists, thus creating a gift-giving response in order to perpetuate the survival of the relationship. In looking at this scenario, though a bit more simplified than fitness survival, one can assess that it is possible that the nature of survival processing is based upon memory and learned responses rather than an evolutionary set of responses that are based on instinct. The survival of a cultural concept, such as romance, is far different than physical survival, thus it is necessary to distinguish between survival of an individual to survival of a cultural convention. Therefore, the deductions of evolutionary scientists proves to have merit with the distinction of culture versus individual taken into consideration. Memory is engaged through the evolution of the importance of associating survival with past experience, as much as the evolution of instinctual responses have a purpose in supporting perpetuation of life through survival techniques that have passed through generations of human existence. Word count 1015 References Burns, D. J., S. A. Burns, and A. J. Hwang. (2011). Adaptive Memory: Determining the Proximate Mechanisms Responsible for the Memorial Advantages of Survival Processing. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. 37(1): 206-218. Huang, M. H. & S. Yu. (2000). Gifts in a romantic relationship: A survival analysis. Journal of Consumer Psychology. 9(3): 179-188. Nairne, J. S., S. R. Thompson & J. N. S. Pandeirada. (2007). Adaptive memory: Survival processing enhances retention. Journal of Experimental Psychology. 33(2): 263-273. Suplizio, J. (December 2007). On the significance of William James to a contemporary doctrine of evolutionary psychology. Human Studies. 30(4): 357-375. Read More