"A genuine, detailed specification of the circuit logic of human nature
is expected to become the theoretical centerpiece of a newly
reconstituted set of social sciences, because each model of an evolved
psychological mechanism makes predictions about the psychological,
behavioral, and social phenomena the circuits generate or influence.
(For example, the evolutionarily specialized mechanisms underlying human
alliance help to explain phenomena such as racism and group dynamics;
Kurzban, Tooby, & Cosmides, 2001.) A growing inventory of such models
will catalyze the transformation of the social sciences from fields that
are predominantly descriptive, soft, and particularistic into
theoretically principled scientific disciplines with genuine predictive
and explanatory power. Evolutionary psychology in the narrow sense is
the scientific project of mapping our evolved psychological mechanisms;
in the broad sense, it includes the project of reformulating and
expanding the social sciences (and medical sciences) in light of the
progressive mapping of our species' evolved architecture." -- John Tooby
& Leda Cosmides, Conceptual Foundations of Evolutionary Psychology, chap
1, p 6, The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology, ed David W. Buss, John
Wiley and Sons, 2005. http://tinyurl.com/czm7rr
I was looking for background on theories of prospect and refuge. It
seems particularly relevant to current times, and to Torre from which to
look out at the predatory birds.
"PROSPECT-REFUGE THEORY
One of the more prominent contributions in this vein is Appleton's
(1975). Based on his analyses of landscape paintings, Appleton concluded
that landscapes with high attraction value contained a balance between
prospect and refuge features. Prospect features such as elevated
landforms provide an overall view of the landscape and facilitate the
search for fowl, water, and prey. Refuge features such as groupings of
trees permit the individual to see without being seen and function
mainly in the interests of security. In this theory, the most important
aspect of the habitat is the spatial arrangement of environmental
attributes, that is, land- forms, trees, open spaces, and water,
inasmuch as their arrangement determines whether prospect and refuge
opportunities can be effectively utilized.
Attempts to test Appleton's theory by means of comparative landscape
judgments have yielded equivocal results (e.g., Clamp & Powell, 1982;
Heyligers, 1981), which is likely a function of the variation of
possible spatial arrangements of prospect and refuge features (Appleton,
1988). Supporting data for the theory were obtained by Mealey and Theis
(1995), however, based on their contention that the relative attraction
value of prospect and refuge should vary within individuals in
accordance with their moods. Positive moods, they maintained, would
induce a need to explore and take risks for the sake of future benefits
and would thus be associated with prospect. Negative moods would give
rise to a need for security and rest and would thereby be associated
with refuge. As predicted, subjects reporting positive moods preferred
landscapes with vast expanses and overviews, while subjects reporting
mood dysphoria preferred landscapes with enclosed, protected spaces." --
Locating Places, Irwin Silverman and Jean Choi, chap 6, p 192,The
Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology, ed David W. Buss, John Wiley and
Sons, 2005.
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