The nature of beneficial traits for natural selection changes with time
Historians will have to face the fact that natural selection determined the evolution of cultures in the same manner as it did that of species — Konrad Lorenz
Biological entities require energy to counteract the disorder that entropy persistently seeks to amplify, often leading to the degradation of their form. To combat the force of entropy, biological entities are in constant pursuit of energy for self-preservation. Plants harness energy from light, while animals rely on food, which is fundamentally a product of the energy conversion efforts of plants. For all living beings, energy is a highly sought-after resource. It is their kryptonite.
Various species, be they plants or animals, coexist in a shared environment and vie for the available resource, energy, which is crucial for their survival and reproduction. This competition gives rise to the fundamental concept of natural selection. If a species succeeds in securing a larger share of the available resources, the traits that facilitated this success become more prevalent in the subsequent generations. This is because access to additional resources increases the likelihood of survival and reproduction.
Natural selection is an inexorable, punishing, and unsparing process. If you are not adequately adapted to the offerings of your environment, or if another individual is better equipped to do so, your distant progeny will not exist to honor your memory.
The competition for resources could either be inter-species, such as between lions and hyenas vying for a prey, or it could be intra-species. If a subset of individuals of a species acquires a trait through random genetic mutation that assists in obtaining more resources than their counterparts, that trait becomes more common in future generations. These traits that can provide an upper hand be either physical or psychological.
The influence of physical traits on survival and reproduction is relatively easy to comprehend. If an individual within a species is stronger, faster, has a longer neck, or possesses the ability to breathe both on land and in water, they are likely to secure a larger share of resources. This improves their prospects of survival and reproduction. As these individuals produce more offspring over time, the advantageous trait starts to become more widespread within the population. This could potentially lead to the emergence of a new species.
Numerous examples can also be construed to illustrate how beneficial psychological traits, by enhancing survival and reproduction, will become prevalent in a population (to the point of becoming automated responses).
Consider fear. The psychological trait of fear towards various dangers threatening our survival is essential. Without fear, and the fight-or-flight response it triggers, human lifespan would be short-lived. Some fears, such as the fear of being bitten by poisonous snakes, are so deeply ingrained in our psyche that the mere rustling of grass can make our hair stand on end.
The principles of natural selection operate within the confines of the current environment where competition takes place. It is within these boundaries that the advantages of physical and psychological traits are assessed. The process of natural selection does not attempt to predict future environmental conditions, nor does it select traits based on their potential benefits in an as-yet-nonexistent environment. The future is too uncertain to gamble on which traits might prove beneficial. Therefore, disregarding potential future events is not a beneficial trait. Hence, humans tend to discount the future.
One final example of beneficial psychological trait is our inclination to choose the path of least resistance. Given that energy is a valuable resource, when faced with two options that require different amounts of energy, the one requiring less energy is preferred. Why opt for a difficult approach when an easier one is readily available? Our tendency to choose the path of least resistance, combined with our preference for discounting the future, could have a compounding effect that is evident in our current environment.
Due to environmental changes and our technological advancements, the categorization of what constitutes a beneficial trait can evolve over time. This has already transpired for physical traits.
Technological progress has equalized the playing field for physical attributes. If you cannot run fast, a vehicle can compensate for that. If your muscles are not as strong as others, there are technological solutions for that as well. We have even reached a point where inter-species competition is no longer a concern for us. Not only that, but we have also modified the environment to such an extent that other species are struggling to survive.
What about psychological traits? Have we succeeded in overcoming their influence? Are these traits no longer relevant in the new paradigm that governs our current societal structures and norms? It does not appear to be so. In the present, our behaviors and responses continue to be guided by psychological traits that were advantageous during our hunter-gatherer days but may no longer be beneficial.
The psychological trait of fear is very much within us. Rustling grass still makes our hair stand on its end. Added to that are other automatic responses that trigger our brain’s primal fear response and are not helpful in a civilized society. Fear of public speaking can generate an automatic response of racing heart, trembling, and sweating. Fear of certain social situations leads to anxiety and automated response of sweating or a desire to flee. Fear of failure trigger automatic responses such as procrastination, perfectionism, or avoidance of challenging tasks.
Despite the significant personal cost, we persist in discounting the future. The average lifespan is now considerably longer than it once was. Much to nature’s dismay, due to advancements in medicine and hygiene, we continue to live well beyond our prime reproductive years. This necessitates planning for extended horizons. Our ongoing inclination to discount the future is no longer beneficial. For a healthier lifespan, we should improve our diet and exercise regularly. For a comfortable retirement, we should save and invest. However, participating in these forward-thinking activities requires considerable discipline, a trait natural selection did not train us for.
The story is the same for our preference for favoring the option of least resistance. Between the options of exercising today vs. being sedentary the whole day is so much easier and that is what gets favored. Alternatively, why task the brain with thinking when mindlessly scrolling for the next story is so less taxing.
Our tendency to favor the path of least resistance remains unchanged. Given the choice between exercising today or remaining sedentary, the latter is often the easier option and thus, the one we tend to choose. Why exert mental effort when one can simply continue scrolling for the next story?
Perhaps someday, technology will help equalize disparities in psychological traits. Taking a daily pill or receiving an injection, similar to getting vaccinated during our developmental years, could potentially cure our tendency to discount the future or resist the allure of the path of least resistance. However, until such advancements are made, the psychological traits that were once beneficial will persist. We must remain vigilant against exploitation by politicians, companies, and snake oil salesmen who are adept at manipulating these traits.
What seems even more likely is that the competition of resources (given their finite nature) will never stop, and certain traits, whether psychological or technological, by virtue of their helping secure more resources, will persist indefinitely. The competition for energy will always be there, what traits help us secure it may change.
Ciao.
