Sociobiology, Evolutionary Psychology, and Popular Culture
My aversion to some of Sociobiology's intellectual
production (theory, explanation, books and articles) at least from those who
call themselves Evolutionary Psychologists, comes from my repulsion in reaction
to David Buss's writing about the "normal" mating behavior (spouse theft, jealousy,
female ovulation-related infidelity, etc.) of humans. Seems like these academics
relish the "dumbing down" of humanity that comes from the view of behavior derived
from genetic-reproduction pressures model. I suspect it an over-reaction to
Western Civilization's hoary (even pre-Freudian) taboo in regard to sex. Hispanic
cultures seem not as repressed.
An intercultural examination of language might help;
look at how English society represses emotional sensitivity, i.e. romantic or
sensual songs rejected as corny, mushy, etc. Then you might compare progeny
statistics to language/tradition/socio-economic group and see if Buss and cohorts
really have a statistical leg to stand on.
