有关进化心理学局限性的理论思考

进化心理学是现代西方心理学的新取向之一。这一新取向吸引了众多的追随者，但是它自身的核心假设、方法论和认识论方面却存在着局限性。文章从三个方面分析了这种局限性：第一，进化心理学的核心假设是心理的模块性观点。依据这种观点，心灵由大量功能各异的心理模块组成，但是来自于心理学和生物学的研究都表明这种观点是缺乏科学依据的。第二，进化心理学从过去的角度理解现在，所依据的事实大多是推测性的，更多的是一种历史叙事，从方法论的角度来说，这种研究不具备可证伪性，不符合科学方法论的基本原则。第三，在认识论方面，进化心理学继承了社会生物学的传统，有意或无意地夸大了基因的作用，贬低了个体发展过程中其它因素，现代生命科学的研究已经证明了基因决定论的虚假性

Theoretical Thinking about The Limitations of Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology(EP) is a relatively new perspective in psychology.Not only does it attract a number of followers,but also it has engendered considerable debates.The purpose of this paper is to discuss its weaknesses and limitations by focusing on its core hypothesis,methodology and epistemology:(1).A core hypothesis of EP claims that the mind contains hundreds or thousands of modules,each with a specialized design that performs one function when interacting with the external world.Evolutionary psychologist maintain that,although human mind contains a degree of modularity,it functions integratively.It is difficult to imagine the complexity and size of the brain that would make this possible.Moreover,the operation of modules is not specified by our genetic program and the mind/brain do not have lots of "genetically specified," domain specific,informationally encapsulated modules.The assumption of massive modularity lacks experience validation.(2).The hallmark of scientific theory is its falsifiability and refutability,the cornerstone of modern sciences.Although the majority of scientists have adopted this criterion,most evolutionary psychologists do not accept this approach.In EP,historical narrative and speculation has often been used as main methodology.Such narrative and speculation are not subject to falsifiability.While historical narrative may played important role in evolutionary biology due to its lack of direct data,it is a different issue as far as psychology is concerned.Psychology is,by and large,an experimental science.Its conceptions and hypotheses must be tested by empirical evidence.No narration and speculation are allowed in psychological science.(3).EP claims that contemporary human behaviors are governed directly by genes that reflect adaptation of an ancestral environment.However,recent evidences from biological sciences showed that although genes can control some general patterns of human behaviors and must be involved in the construction of our brains,genes cannot control our individual behavioral choices.They indeed influence our behaviors,but they are not an exclusive factor that can determine the development of our behaviors.Findings available from biology over the past several decades demonstrated that non-genetic factors and conditions such as gravity,temperature,population density and cultural experience could make powerful influences on the way organisms develop.Social and environmental factors,particularly cultural environment,exert the strongest influences on human behavior.Although evolutionary psychologists claim that they are interactionists,rather than genetic determinists,they are in fact hereditism,because they place more weight on genetic factors and environmental influences are considered secondary.