Evolutionary Psychology and Adaptive Behavior

1)杀人案研究：我们继续根据当地法院的先例开发关于日本杀人案的数据库。为了弄清影响凶杀案的危险因素，我们从进化心理学的角度分析了收入、教育背景、工作、婚姻状况、心理健康等变量。我们的结果主要发表在日本人类行为与进化学会上。2)出生率和死亡率的性别差异：我们分析了明治时期婚生和非婚生子女的出生和死亡率的性别差异。我们发现合法男性和私生子女性的死亡率较高，这被认为是由于父母的不同投入造成的。3)适应性认知偏差：我们继续研究关于组内和组外成员歧视的适应性心理机制。4)精神障碍的进化方法：基于达尔文医学的思想，我们论证了抑郁和焦虑的适应性意义，即它们起到了防止不必要的风险的作用。5)自闭症和非自闭症儿童视觉认知的实验研究：为了调查自闭症儿童是否在联合注意中受损，6)自闭症商数的初步研究：考察自闭症商数与其他认知能力和个体特征的关系，如嵌入图形任务、Cloninger‘s TCL、易被嘲笑等。7)对黑猩猩的情绪认知和灵长类动物的颜色知觉进行了实验研究。

1) Homicide studies : We continue to develop the database about Japanese homicidal cases based upon local court precedents. In order to clarify risk factors influencing on homicide, we analyzed variables such as income, educational background, jobs, marital status, mental health from the evolutionary psychological viewpoint. Our results were presented mainly at the Human Behavior and Evolution Society in Japan.2) Sex differences in rate of birth and death : We analyzed sex differences in birth and death rate of legitimate and illegitimate offspring in Meiji period. We found the higher mortality among legitimate males and among bastard females, which is thought to be caused by differential parental investment.3) Adaptive cognitive biases : We continued to study adaptive psychological mechanism about discrimination between in-and out-group members.4) Evolutionary approach to mental disorder : Based on the idea of Darwinian medicine, we argued the adaptive significance of depression and anxiety, i.e. they serve to prevent from unnecessary risk.5) Experimental studies on visual cognition among both autistic and non-autistic children : In order to investigate if autistic children are impaired in joint attention, we conducted experiment about automatic shift of attention to gaze stimulus.6) Preliminary study on autistic quotient : We investigate the relation between autistic quotient and other cognitive abilities and personal characteristics such as embedded figure task, Cloninger's TCl, vulnerability of being teased and so on.7) We also conducted experimental study about cognition of emotion in chimpanzees and color perception among primates.