If I missed someone posting this article, I apologize. Whatever, there is an interesting article in the NYT's (Darwin was Wrong about Dating) that discusses the methods as well as the perspectives of the evolutionary psychologists on the differences between the genders in their sexual behavior patterns. The article provides a reasonable critique of the approaches used by evolutionists as well as providing examples of experiments that, in contrast, demonstrate how measurement and situational variables influence the sexual behaviors men and women. I am using this article as a spring board for my research course, asking them to summarize and critique the opposing positions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/opinion/sunday/darwin-was-wrong-about-dating.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 The article also reveals a trait I feel is often missing among those in our scientific community--that of being particularly open-minded to contrary perspectives. There could easily be an entire book focused simply on how the lack of open-mindedness has served as an obstacle to the advancement of science throughout its history. Joan Joan Warmbold Boggs Professor of Psychology Oakton Community College [email protected] > Hi > > I think the argument in that paper was much over-stated. But even if = > somewhat true for psychology in general, I would think it definitely does > = > not apply to evolutionary psychologists like Buss and Schmitt. Look at = > the countries represented in their work as far back as pre 1993. > > http://www.psy.cmu.edu/~rakison/bussandschmitt.pdf > > Or consider the 56 nations represented in the sexuality research since = > then. See summary at: > > http://schmitt.socialpsychology.org/ > > Take care > Jim > > > James M. Clark > Professor & Chair of Psychology > [email protected] > Room 4L41A > 204-786-9757 > 204-774-4134 Fax > Dept of Psychology, U of Winnipeg > 515 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB > R3B 0R4 CANADA > > >>>> Carol DeVolder <[email protected]> 13-Jan-13 4:44 PM >>> > I'm pretty sure this paper has come up for discussion on this list before, > but here it is--it seems relevant to this discussion too. > http://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~henrich/pdfs/Weird_People_BBS_final02.pdf=20 > > > On Sun, Jan 13, 2013 at 3:31 PM, Jim Clark <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hi >> >> Dan Slater wrote a recent article on evolutionary psychology and dating >> behavior. See >> >> >> http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/opinion/sunday/darwin-was-wrong-about-d= > ating.html=20 >> >> It takes (in my view) an extremely simplistic perspective on the area = > and >> the comments reveal just how poorly many people think about >> psychological= > >> research (or social science research more generally). Many comments >> reflect as simplistic a perspective as the author, noting (quite = > rightly) >> possible limitations of the described research (e.g., being based on >> Western participants) and theories as described (e.g., evolution = > accounts >> for everything). One certainly does not expect lay readers to be >> knowledgeable about areas of research, but it is disturbing that many >> assume the researchers have never thought of and addressed these = > problems. >> Buss and Schmitt (who are cited), for example, have studied many = > different >> cultures. >> >> So you end up with a vicious circle: negative attitudes toward >> psychological research + poorly written article on an area =3D even more >> negative attitudes toward psych research. >> >> Is it really true then that there is "no such thing as bad publicity?" >> >> Take care >> Jim > > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=49240.d374d0c18780e492c3d2e63f91752d0d&n=T&l=tips&o=23070 > or send a blank email to > leave-23070-49240.d374d0c18780e492c3d2e63f91752...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=23082 or send a blank email to leave-23082-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
