9781422270158

The neocortex accounts for more than half the area of the human brain.

Evolutionary Social Psychology Buss (1990) argued that some of the most important problems humans had to solve over time were indeed social. 1 In terms of evolution, group cooperation was an adaptation that allowed humans to survive in difficult situations. For example, groups of people who collaborated to find food, shelter, and other basic necessities had better outcomes than those who fought against the group norms. 1 Evolutionary psychology offers explanations for several social relationships: 1. Friendship Humans seek out reciprocal relationships with others. This is because when both individuals benefit from the relationship, it reinforces its positive value. 14 It’s the natural give and take of friendships—one person helps, and the other eventually returns the favor.

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Chapter 1: Why We Need People