It has been demonstarted that there is a significant genetic component to some of our behaviours. That strongly suggests that evolution would act on behaviours.
do you have a link to a research on the field which supports this assertion?
Allthough I don’t have links to the research papers themselves, I hope the following information is what you are looking for. As Nosyned correctly points out, there is a significant genetic component to at least some of our behaviors. Actually, I would go as far as saying that many if not most of our behaviors have a genetic component.
For example, there is compelling evidence that heredity plays a mayor role in causing behavioral symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Such symptoms include behaviors like: frequently shifting from one uncompleted activity to another, acting before thinking, having difficulty taking turns or waiting in line. In these studies the average heritability is a stunning 0.80. Some studies even finding a heritability component of 0.91.
See also: Levy, F., Hay, D. A., Mc-stephen, M., Wood, C., & Waldman, I. (1997). Attention-deficet hyperactivity disorder: A category or a continuum? Genetic analyses of a large-scale twin study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 737-744)
Another example is antisocial behaviour. Allthough there is evidence for both environmental and genetic explanations, Ge and colleagues (1996) find that antisocial behavior in biological parents is significantly related to the aggressiveness of children adopted out of home. Which suggests there is a genetic component involved.
See also: Ge, X., Conger, R. D., Cadoret, R. J., NedierHiser, J. M., Yates, W., Troughton, E., & Stewart, M. A. (1996). The developmental interface between nature and nurture: A mutual influence of child antisocial behavior and parent behaviors. Developmental Psychology, 32, 574-589.
Yet another example are depression related behaviors and mood disorders in general. Genetic influences are found to play an important role here. Although certainly not conclusive evidence for there being a genetic component involved, it is intriguing that parental depression is the single best predictor of child depression. More conclusive evidence comes from twin and adoption studies where, for example, it is found that the concordance rates for major depression in monozygotic twins is about 50 percent. In dizygotic twins these rates are only about 15 percent.
See also: Wenar, C., Kerig., P. (2000). Developmental Psychopathology: From Infancy through Adolescence —4th ed. McGraw-Hill Book co. ISBN 0-07-116641-6
The list of examples is endless. One last example that I find quite interesting and would like to share, is the (ab)use of cocaine. There is not a single mammal known in the world that will not self administrate cocaine if it gets the chance. Even preferring cocaine over food. Not surprisingly there is no one successful treatment for people abusing cocaine.
Maybe this last example is only partly related to the question you ask but it demonstrates quite clearly that at least certain behaviors are thoroughly ingrained.
Hope this was of help,
Psychopathologist
(ABE: fixed typo)
This message has been edited by Psychopathologist, 02-07-2005 07:17 AM
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