Document Type
Article
Abstract
Evolutionary psychologists claim that the mind contains “hundreds or thousands” of “genetically specified” modules, which are evolutionary adaptations for their cognitive functions. We argue that, while the adult human mind/brain typically contains a degree of modularization, its “modules” are neither genetically specified nor evolutionary adaptations. Rather, they result from the brain's developmental plasticity, which allows environmental task demands a large role in shaping the brain's information-processing structures. The brain's developmental plasticity is our fundamental psychological adaptation, and the “modules” that result from it are adaptive responses to local conditions, not past evolutionary environments. If different individuals share common environments, however, they may develop similar “modules,” and this process can mimic the development of genetically specified modules in the evolutionary psychologist's sense.
DOI
10.1023/A:1011573226794
Publication Date
12-1-2000
Recommended Citation
Buller, D.J., and Hardcastle, V. G. 2000: Evolutionary Psychology, Meet Developmental Neurobiology: Against Promiscuous Modularity. Brain and Mind 1:3, 307-325
Original Citation
Buller, D.J., and Hardcastle, V. G. 2000: Evolutionary Psychology, Meet Developmental Neurobiology: Against Promiscuous Modularity. Brain and Mind 1:3, 307-325
Legacy Department
Department of Philosophy
Language
eng
Publisher
Springer Verlag
Comments
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.