Discussion Question

Dr. Gad Saad describes evolution psychology as the study of the human mind based on evolutionary principles. In the YouTube discussion, Professor Gad Saad indicates that other subfields within the psychological sciences have been influenced by evolutionary psychology. The subfields have become appreciative of the fact that the human mind has evolved. Therefore, the subfields have become appreciative of the human nature. For instance, the evolution of the human mind has resulted in an evolution of people’s needs and preferences. In evaluating consumer behavior, for instance, psychologists can argue that the market’s preference changes and it is up to marketers to determine the changes and release products and services that match the new interests (Saad, 2011). Professor Saad also discusses sex selection as part of the evolutionary process. Just like how animals such as peacocks evolved to use their tails to attract their mates, human beings have evolved in their strategies to attract their preferred mate. For instance, a man would engage in serious grooming and upgrade on his car so as to draw the attention of his target mate. The grooming and fancy car boosts his testosterone levels and enhances his confidence. Overall, Professors Saad demonstrates that there is a strong connection between the principles of evolutionary psychology and the subfields of psychological sciences (Saad, 2011). The mind influences behaviors, and it is possible for an individual to manipulate his o her mind to think in a certain way thus triggers a specific and unique behavior. Therefore, psychologists in the various subfields can focus on understanding the human mind to find an effective solution to a problem that a client manifest.

In the society, the factors that have been identified as contributors to the highest incidences of child abuse are child’s gender, and age, family incomes, social isolation, family sizes and family characteristics such as children from single-parent households are at a higher risk compared to those from intact families. Concerning gender, girls are at more risk of sexual abuse compared to boys, whereas boys are at a higher risk for incidences such as physical abuse and neglect compared to the girl child. Ill-treatment and neglect on children have a severe adverse impact on children and also affects the parents. Some acts have a more serious effect on a child compared to others. For instance, child neglect leads to lower cognitive development and educational achievement to the victim, while child physical abuse leads to higher level of child aggression and subsequent violence as well as physical harm. Some of the consequences associated with all kinds of child abuse and neglect are an increased risk of mental health problems including depression, delinquency, and arrests, poorer physical health when older and drug and substance abuse. The social problem of child abuse and neglect occurs across all class, religious, cultural, racial, gender, ethnic, economic and geographic boundaries. According to Ritzer & Ryan (2010), there is a need to search for the underlying causes of any of these acts so as to prevent them. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child requires that the society extends the rights of human beings as well as equal protection under the law so as to start an end to the abuse of children.

References

Professor Gad Saad [Video file]. (2015, November 3).

Saad, G. (2011). The consuming instinct. Prometheus Books

Carolyn Morgan is the author of this paper. A senior editor at Melda Research in