Published:
- by Mount Saint Mary College
Snakes for the memories

Thanks to thousands of years of evolution, fear can be a complex emotion, said Yasmine Kalkstein, associate professor of Psychology and Faculty Development Coordinator at Mount Saint Mary College.

Kalkstein’s young son, Matan, tagged along to his mother’s Introduction to Psychology course earlier this month – and so did his pet snake, Ronnee.

“Evolutionary psychology provokes us to consider how the way we are today may have been advantageous in an ancestral environment,” explained Kalkstein. “So, for example, we fear snakes because snakes were a threat to the survival of our ancestors.”

The ancient humans who avoided snakes were more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on the genetic tendency for that fear, Kalkstein noted. “Understanding that our feelings and behaviors now may be triggered by survival mechanisms of thousands of years ago is what evolutionary psychology is all about."

When Kalkstein’s son surprised her class with the snake, about half of the students were afraid of it. But, as the Psychology professor pointed out, “our genetic dispositions don't determine everything.”

As Ronnee was passed around the classroom, a student who was scared of the animal volunteered to hold it. Gradually, her hands stopped shaking, and she became desensitized to the situation. By the end of class, most other students had followed suit.

In 45 minutes, the class had overcome thousands of years of evolutionary programming.

Students in the Mount’s Social Sciences programs study why people behave as they do, and learn how to use this knowledge for the betterment of society. The Mount offers degree programs and concentrations for Psychology, Criminology, History/Political Science, Human Services, Social Sciences, and more. Students receive a strong foundation in theories, research techniques, and analytical skills.

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