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The Interplay Between Genetics and Experience with Dr Robert Willson
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Perception Podcast with me your host Caroline Partridge. Today I talk to Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Greenwich, Dr Robert Willson. In this illuminating conversation, we explore the origins of and misconceptions around Evolutionary Psychology. We look at the interaction between genetics and experience, especially with regard to human sexual behaviour and gender identity.
Please join me as we look at life through a different lens.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Evolutionary psychology examines cognition and behaviour from a modern evolutionary perspective.
- Some argue that human behaviour has to be understood within the context of human evolution.
- Evolution impacts how we behave, but things like the fight or flight system are now largely redundant.
- Genetics and experience both have an impact, e.g., intelligence is shaped by both.
- What drives us is complex. evolution that plays a role, but other things do too e.g. social and cultural factors.
- For humans, sexual behaviour is not only about fertility.
- Gender is not based solely on genetics it is also impacted by social factors and some think that developmental events in the womb, also play a role.
- Gender can be influenced by socio-cultural factors.
- Society still treats boys and girls differently, despite trying not to.
- There is far more overlap between genders and racial groups than differences.
- Looking at average differences e.g. men are stronger and navigate better than women is misleading. It does not mean all men are like that, or that all women are always weaker than all men or worse navigators.
- We all share a lot of genetic material with others. It is the small amount of material we do not have in common with others that evolution works with.
BEST MOMENTS
‘We use sexual behaviour as a way of bonding with people.’
‘Maybe our brains aren't actually that fit for purpose anymore.’
‘Evolutionary psychology basically argues that the human mind and human behaviour have also been shaped by evolution.’
‘Evolution can help us understand some things. But societal and cultural factors also are important.’
‘There's always an interaction between our genetic makeup, and our life experiences.’
‘Despite our best efforts, we treat infants that we perceive as male differently than we do, infants that we perceive as female.’
‘Evolution might have primed us to do these things, but there´s always a choice.’
EPISODE RESOURCES
The Adapted Mind - Jerome H. Barkow and others - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adapted-Mind-Evolutionary-Psychology-Generation-ebook/dp/B000RGUOGC/
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins -- https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Selfish-Gene/dp/B004UAZL5U/
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins - https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-God-Delusion/dp/B00E8KBWAK/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr. Rob Willson is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Greenwich. He joined the University in February 1998, having completed a 4-year Wellcome Trust Fellowship at the University of St. Andrews. Before that, he had been an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow within the Department of Zoology at Oxford University, under the supervision of Prof.Sir John Krebs. Originally from Canada, Robert completed his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Prof. Don Wilkie, graduating in 1992, before he relocated to the UK.
Robert's original training was in Animal Cognition, doing behavioural research into learning and memory in non-human species, predominantly with a focus on spatial memory in pigeons and food-storing birds. Although Rob retains an interest in these areas, his research now focuses on a variety of issues across Evolutionary Psychology, Sport Psychology, and Social Psychology.
He teaches various aspects of Biological Psychology and has a particular interest in Evolutionary Psychology and how an evolutionary perspective might be able to help understand some aspects of human behaviour.
SOCIALS
https://www.gre.ac.uk/people/rep/faculty-of-education-and-health/robert-willson
ABOUT THE HOST
Bio
Caroline Partridge is a unique and creative individual. She is an actress, puppeteer, educator, and artist with funny bones. She loves a story and is an expert at conveying wit and wisdom with warmth, understanding, and empathy.
CONTACT METHOD
FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/caropartridge
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-partridge-03131520
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/partridge_caroline
View all episodes
By Caroline PartridgeHello and welcome to another episode of the Perception Podcast with me your host Caroline Partridge. Today I talk to Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Greenwich, Dr Robert Willson. In this illuminating conversation, we explore the origins of and misconceptions around Evolutionary Psychology. We look at the interaction between genetics and experience, especially with regard to human sexual behaviour and gender identity.
Please join me as we look at life through a different lens.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Evolutionary psychology examines cognition and behaviour from a modern evolutionary perspective.
- Some argue that human behaviour has to be understood within the context of human evolution.
- Evolution impacts how we behave, but things like the fight or flight system are now largely redundant.
- Genetics and experience both have an impact, e.g., intelligence is shaped by both.
- What drives us is complex. evolution that plays a role, but other things do too e.g. social and cultural factors.
- For humans, sexual behaviour is not only about fertility.
- Gender is not based solely on genetics it is also impacted by social factors and some think that developmental events in the womb, also play a role.
- Gender can be influenced by socio-cultural factors.
- Society still treats boys and girls differently, despite trying not to.
- There is far more overlap between genders and racial groups than differences.
- Looking at average differences e.g. men are stronger and navigate better than women is misleading. It does not mean all men are like that, or that all women are always weaker than all men or worse navigators.
- We all share a lot of genetic material with others. It is the small amount of material we do not have in common with others that evolution works with.
BEST MOMENTS
‘We use sexual behaviour as a way of bonding with people.’
‘Maybe our brains aren't actually that fit for purpose anymore.’
‘Evolutionary psychology basically argues that the human mind and human behaviour have also been shaped by evolution.’
‘Evolution can help us understand some things. But societal and cultural factors also are important.’
‘There's always an interaction between our genetic makeup, and our life experiences.’
‘Despite our best efforts, we treat infants that we perceive as male differently than we do, infants that we perceive as female.’
‘Evolution might have primed us to do these things, but there´s always a choice.’
EPISODE RESOURCES
The Adapted Mind - Jerome H. Barkow and others - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adapted-Mind-Evolutionary-Psychology-Generation-ebook/dp/B000RGUOGC/
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins -- https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Selfish-Gene/dp/B004UAZL5U/
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins - https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-God-Delusion/dp/B00E8KBWAK/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr. Rob Willson is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Greenwich. He joined the University in February 1998, having completed a 4-year Wellcome Trust Fellowship at the University of St. Andrews. Before that, he had been an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow within the Department of Zoology at Oxford University, under the supervision of Prof.Sir John Krebs. Originally from Canada, Robert completed his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Prof. Don Wilkie, graduating in 1992, before he relocated to the UK.
Robert's original training was in Animal Cognition, doing behavioural research into learning and memory in non-human species, predominantly with a focus on spatial memory in pigeons and food-storing birds. Although Rob retains an interest in these areas, his research now focuses on a variety of issues across Evolutionary Psychology, Sport Psychology, and Social Psychology.
He teaches various aspects of Biological Psychology and has a particular interest in Evolutionary Psychology and how an evolutionary perspective might be able to help understand some aspects of human behaviour.
SOCIALS
https://www.gre.ac.uk/people/rep/faculty-of-education-and-health/robert-willson
ABOUT THE HOST
Bio
Caroline Partridge is a unique and creative individual. She is an actress, puppeteer, educator, and artist with funny bones. She loves a story and is an expert at conveying wit and wisdom with warmth, understanding, and empathy.
CONTACT METHOD
FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/caropartridge
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-partridge-03131520
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/partridge_caroline