OK. I just read an interesting article titled "We are raising a generation of deluded narcissists" by a well respected American psychiatrist. Here is the link http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/01/08/are-raising-generation-deluded-narcissists/ or simply do a search on Keith Ablow to find the article.
This has me wondering how (or if) societal values and pressures effect natural selection just like environmental pressures. If the following generations are truly much more narcissistic, what traits will tend to persist? Is any of this related to our studies.
I think there is a personality disorder called Narcissistic personality disorder. A lot of what I have read about it is saying that it's caused by some sort of trauma like abuse. I actually was just reading about this a few days ago. The article I read said that the cause could also be a combination of a genetic predisposition or environmental factor. Psychotheraphy supposedly can treat it.
I suppose that in terms of maintaining genetic equilibrium, some new genes must be introduced into the population. Basically, as the article points out, we are living in a society of "false pride." If we relate that in terms of populations changing genetically, , we could breed individuals in or out of isolated populations. Alleles do tend to move with individuals (gene flow) so there is a tendency for genetic variability to be infused into larger populations or even into smaller (isolated) ones. I guess that forms a larger population with genetic variability. In this case, as what the article is describing, the society we are living in nowadays strive on false pride. Those selected behavior of people will mix into the population and thus, like what facebook does, it's a massive wipeout.
On a lighter note, that article is also jabbing on a political note. It tries to relate the current behavioral pattern of a "parent" (the administration) to how its "children" (its people) is basically demonstrating the same false pride under the cold harsh reality of a roller coaster economy and fascism.
The discussion of narcissistic kids rapidly moves beyond my area of expertise. It does however raise an interesting example of changes in the behavioral phenotypes of kids that have occurred for cultural, not genetic reasons. There has not been an increase in the prevalence of the "narcissisitic gene". Instead, changes in the environment in which we are rearing kids appears to have resulted in a change of behavior.
My thoughts are that we need to recognize that most of the characteristics of the human brain were developed during periods when natural selection was still very important. But now the behavioral traits developed by earlier selection are expressed in very different environments. For example, the "self confidence" gained by a young boy who has killed his first game animal might be beneficial because it might serve to increase his confidence in future hunts which might increase his hunting effectiveness. However, the self-confidence earned through losing a soccer match might not result in such a positive outcome. I think that this is a cool topic to think about!! I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts.
In relation to the text “Limits to Natural Selection” (4th par.) – it was pre-supposed that “…The process of natural selection would also cease if the phenotypic variation were no longer related to difference in survival or reproduction…”
What comes to my mind in this case is the concept behind SPECIATION. If there is a lineage splitting event that produces separate species, then it must involve an INABILITY to reproduce. If we take one species and then reproductively isolate it in the existing population of the same species and sometime in the course of evolution, the gene pool of the isolated species will no longer be reproductively compatible with the original species. Doesn’t this certain “limit” then explain the concept of speciation? The process of natural selection shouldn’t cease then, but rather populations will change genetically. Natural selection tends to reduce genetic variability by reducing the frequency of some phenotypes and increasing other phenotypes.
Another thought that came into mind is I came across one model of evolution called “gradualism” while I was teaching Biology two years ago. This theory apparently proposes that species undergo changes that lead to SPECIATION in the course of time.
That same year I was teaching Biology, one of the suggested lesson plans mandated through C-SCOPE, was to explain SPECIATION through the analysis of field observations. They used the work of R.C. Stebbins at University of California Berkeley on his study of the species Ensatina eschscholtzzii. Ensatinas are basically terrestrial salamanders that do not thrive in arid regions but need a moist environment. Stebbin’s salamanders came in different species and are basically scattered across California. Stebbin’s collection of subspecies name were color-coded and numbered. The number he placed in his collection map indicated the total number of species he had available for study and the color is used to plot on a collection are on the California map. There are also grid codes that would indicate where the subspecies were collected. Basically, what students needed to do was to interpret the codes in the pictures of subspecies of salamanders and plot them in the grid map (which I spent countless hours printing the pictures in colored paper, laminated them, printed colored overhead picture of the California map to show terrain and etc). The activity also included discussion on the areas of unidentified population, uniform distribution of species, relationship between physiography and species characteristic, pattern of distribution, and trends/patterns on various subspecies to indicate relationship on distribution. This lesson explanation basically encompasses much of the interlocking concepts on microevolutionary changes.
I think that the theory of natural selection should taken into a broader context of its control mechanisms instead of its limits. While I tend to connect the importance of homeostatic control; and how the environment, natural selection and evolution eventually adapts a species to favor its own environment, I also try to base it under the duress of my understanding of everything about the law of nature (and not knowing everything there is about the biological world) especially when it comes to understanding other ecosystems. This is just a matter of opinion on my part and can be taken differently by others. ☺
Speciation, by the mechanism of allopatric speciation, arises because two population are now unable to exchange genes with each other, not because the populations are unable to reproduce at all. When two populations are separated into two distinct species, natural selection continues to take place in both of the new daughter species. We will talk a lot more about allopatric speciation later on so we will have the change to discuss the role that natural selection plays in this process in much more detail later on.
I am not sure that I completely understand your point in your final paragraph so I don't feel I can respond very well. This could be an interesting area for future discussion so let me know....
OK. I just read an interesting article titled "We are raising a generation of deluded narcissists" by a well respected American psychiatrist. Here is the link
ReplyDeletehttp://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/01/08/are-raising-generation-deluded-narcissists/ or simply do a search on Keith Ablow to find the article.
This has me wondering how (or if) societal values and pressures effect natural selection just like environmental pressures. If the following generations are truly much more narcissistic, what traits will tend to persist? Is any of this related to our studies.
I think there is a personality disorder called Narcissistic personality disorder. A lot of what I have read about it is saying that it's caused by some sort of trauma like abuse. I actually was just reading about this a few days ago. The article I read said that the cause could also be a combination of a genetic predisposition or environmental factor. Psychotheraphy supposedly can treat it.
DeleteI suppose that in terms of maintaining genetic equilibrium, some new genes must be introduced into the population. Basically, as the article points out, we are living in a society of "false pride." If we relate that in terms of populations changing genetically, , we could breed individuals in or out of isolated populations. Alleles do tend to move with individuals (gene flow) so there is a tendency for genetic variability to be infused into larger populations or even into smaller (isolated) ones. I guess that forms a larger population with genetic variability. In this case, as what the article is describing, the society we are living in nowadays strive on false pride. Those selected behavior of people will mix into the population and thus, like what facebook does, it's a massive wipeout.
On a lighter note, that article is also jabbing on a political note. It tries to relate the current behavioral pattern of a "parent" (the administration) to how its "children" (its people) is basically demonstrating the same false pride under the cold harsh reality of a roller coaster economy and fascism.
Hi Gordon and Charity, thanks for your posts.
DeleteThe discussion of narcissistic kids rapidly moves beyond my area of expertise. It does however raise an interesting example of changes in the behavioral phenotypes of kids that have occurred for cultural, not genetic reasons. There has not been an increase in the prevalence of the "narcissisitic gene". Instead, changes in the environment in which we are rearing kids appears to have resulted in a change of behavior.
My thoughts are that we need to recognize that most of the characteristics of the human brain were developed during periods when natural selection was still very important. But now the behavioral traits developed by earlier selection are expressed in very different environments. For example, the "self confidence" gained by a young boy who has killed his first game animal might be beneficial because it might serve to increase his confidence in future hunts which might increase his hunting effectiveness. However, the self-confidence earned through losing a soccer match might not result in such a positive outcome. I think that this is a cool topic to think about!! I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts.
In relation to the text “Limits to Natural Selection” (4th par.) – it was pre-supposed that “…The process of natural selection would also cease if the phenotypic variation were no longer related to difference in survival or reproduction…”
ReplyDeleteWhat comes to my mind in this case is the concept behind SPECIATION. If there is a lineage splitting event that produces separate species, then it must involve an INABILITY to reproduce. If we take one species and then reproductively isolate it in the existing population of the same species and sometime in the course of evolution, the gene pool of the isolated species will no longer be reproductively compatible with the original species. Doesn’t this certain “limit” then explain the concept of speciation? The process of natural selection shouldn’t cease then, but rather populations will change genetically. Natural selection tends to reduce genetic variability by reducing the frequency of some phenotypes and increasing other phenotypes.
Another thought that came into mind is I came across one model of evolution called “gradualism” while I was teaching Biology two years ago. This theory apparently proposes that species undergo changes that lead to SPECIATION in the course of time.
That same year I was teaching Biology, one of the suggested lesson plans mandated through C-SCOPE, was to explain SPECIATION through the analysis of field observations. They used the work of R.C. Stebbins at University of California Berkeley on his study of the species Ensatina eschscholtzzii. Ensatinas are basically terrestrial salamanders that do not thrive in arid regions but need a moist environment. Stebbin’s salamanders came in different species and are basically scattered across California. Stebbin’s collection of subspecies name were color-coded and numbered. The number he placed in his collection map indicated the total number of species he had available for study and the color is used to plot on a collection are on the California map. There are also grid codes that would indicate where the subspecies were collected. Basically, what students needed to do was to interpret the codes in the pictures of subspecies of salamanders and plot them in the grid map (which I spent countless hours printing the pictures in colored paper, laminated them, printed colored overhead picture of the California map to show terrain and etc). The activity also included discussion on the areas of unidentified population, uniform distribution of species, relationship between physiography and species characteristic, pattern of distribution, and trends/patterns on various subspecies to indicate relationship on distribution. This lesson explanation basically encompasses much of the interlocking concepts on microevolutionary changes.
I think that the theory of natural selection should taken into a broader context of its control mechanisms instead of its limits. While I tend to connect the importance of homeostatic control; and how the environment, natural selection and evolution eventually adapts a species to favor its own environment, I also try to base it under the duress of my understanding of everything about the law of nature (and not knowing everything there is about the biological world) especially when it comes to understanding other ecosystems. This is just a matter of opinion on my part and can be taken differently by others. ☺
Speciation, by the mechanism of allopatric speciation, arises because two population are now unable to exchange genes with each other, not because the populations are unable to reproduce at all. When two populations are separated into two distinct species, natural selection continues to take place in both of the new daughter species. We will talk a lot more about allopatric speciation later on so we will have the change to discuss the role that natural selection plays in this process in much more detail later on.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure that I completely understand your point in your final paragraph so I don't feel I can respond very well. This could be an interesting area for future discussion so let me know....