The questions of the title have been considered in several ways. First, indications of the traits which make us humans were considered. Then the behavior and culture concepts were examined, and the biology and culture interactions discussed, with an emphasis on the similarities and differences between the genetic and cultural transmissions. Next diverse types of selective pressures were reviewe...

theoretical ideas and a tendency to take an academic intellectual approach to problem solving. As such, this correlation provides strong support for the convergent construct validity of this 15FQ+ primary factors. Table 25: Correlations (r>.3) Between the 15FQ+ factors and the OIP+ scales 15FQ+ factor OIP+ scale A Empathic Scientifi c (-.46), Logical (-.32), Agreeable (.38) ß Intellectance Mana...

Received academic wisdom holds that human judgment is characterized by unrealistic optimism, the tendency to underestimate the likelihood of negative events and overestimate the likelihood of positive events. With recent questions being raised over the degree to which the majority of this research genuinely demonstrates optimism, attention to possible mechanisms generating such a bias becomes e...