Examples of Positive Evolutionary Psychology

Abstract

To introduce the approach that positive evolutionary psychology takes and to demonstrate how multifaceted it is, this chapter introduces several clear examples. Each example addresses some aspect of living that could be improved, and then it uses evolutionary principles to shed light on the issue. Specifically, this chapter focuses on better understanding love, reciprocity in relationships, and gratitude—each of which has been the subject of work in the field of positive psychology. In this chapter, each of these concepts is dissected through an evolutionary lens, providing insights into the ultimate factors that underlie each of these critical substrates of human happiness.