Adaptation.
What is an adaptation? The term adaptation has been used by psychologists in a variety of contexts and in an assortment of ways (Bevan, 1964). Typically, an adaptation is an evolved modification that a species develops in order to better survive in different environments. There are two types of adaptations; structural adaptations and behavioural adaptations. Structural adaptation are physical features of an organism, it can be seen in animals such as peacocks with their spectacular plumage, or giraffes with their long necks. Whereas behavioural adaptations are unseen changes that can help an organism to survive and pass on genes, like birds migrating every winter. This can also be defined as functional or cognitive traits, such as mate selection which can differ depending on species (Kristie, n.d.).
When it comes to humans, the adaptations mostly occurred after migration processes, when people moved to new different environments. Adaptation processes were always closely related to the process of evolution. People who were already well adapted had higher chances to stay alive. Evidence of these changes can be found in the human DNA of certain people living in special environments (Arcgis, n.d.). Humans have biological plasticity, or an ability to adapt biologically to the environment. An adaptation is any variation that can increase one’s biological fitness in a specific environment; more simply it is the successful interaction of a population with its environment. Adaptations may be biological or cultural in nature. Biological adaptations vary in their length of time, anywhere from a few seconds for a reflex to a lifetime for developmental acclimatization or genetics. The biological changes that occur within an individual’s lifetime are also referred to as functional adaptations.
The types of adaptation is activated often depends on the severity and duration of stressors in the environment. A stressor is anything that disrupts homeostasis, which is a “condition of balance, or stability, within a biological system” (Jurmain et al, 2013). Stressors can be abiotic, such as, climate or high altitude, biotic, like disease, or social, such as war and psychological stress. Cultural adaptations can occur at any time and may be as simple as putting on a coat when it is cold or as complicated as engineering, building, and installing a heating system in a building (Tracy Evans, n.d.).
While examples based on animals and the adaptations there are better known, and clearer to see, adaptations for humans are more subtle and sometimes not even shown at all. However, there are some adaptations in humans that are shown better when the right types of environments are presented or told about. Evolutionary scientists have tried to identify different types of adaptations and the purpose of increasing fitness should be a reason for an adaptation. Yet they still have a good idea how human adaptations can be expression, for example it well aid people in their survival leads to greater reproductive success (Kristie, n.d.). Today this process of evolution and adaptation is no longer in his original function, and it can occur rapidly because people are migrating much faster within a short amount of time. The human body is no longer adapting but his belongings are, for example clothes, cars and more (Arcgis, n.d.).
Humans are encouraged to travel due to many reasons, and one of it is to experience a new environment and culture, which is also known as adaptation. One of the benefits of travelling is the opportunity to have different experiences and witness other people’s cultures. By immersing ourselves in new cultures, humans may encounter culture shock, but humans also have the chance to learn new skills and learn more themselves. Other than meeting new people, exploring new places, problem solving and being an open minded, Learning to adapt is also a great skill to have in life. Since humans are constantly being put in new and unpredictable situations. Even just learning to cope with the unpredictable and adapt to what’s unfolding is a skill in itself. It is after all, just another form of problem solving and trusting our instincts (JRPpass, n.d.).
Certainly, thinking on our own feet is a trait that many employers desire in employees. In general terms, culture shock is a response to our new surroundings such as when moving to a new workplace, location or even travelling abroad. These can leave us confused, anxious and feeling isolated. It generally includes frustration at how even the simplest things can be different in the new culture in which we find yourself. While it may include homesickness and a longing for your familiar life previously, it’s usually more than just missing friends and family. The thing is though, culture shock can be seen as a problem but also as an opportunity. It’s only by learning to adjust to and accept our new surroundings and culture that humans can hope to understand and appreciate it. Unexpectedly, persisting through culture shock can lead to many untold rewards (JRPass, n.d).
References
arcgis.com. (n.d.). https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=eb15693c3dcc421a8c117b7657b7736e.
Bevan, W. (1964). The Concept of Adaptation in Modern Psychology. The Journal of Psychology, 73–93. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1965.9916779
Jurmain R, Kilgore L, Trevathan W. Essentials of physical anthropology, 4th edition. Belmont (CA): Wadsworth, Cengage Learning; 2013. 437 p.
Kristie. (n.d.). Are Psychological Adaptations Even Possible? Evolutionary Psychology Exploring Big Questions. https://kpu.pressbooks.pub/evpsych/chapter/evolution-evolutionary-psychology/.
Tracy Evans, S. A. C. (n.d.). Cultural Anthropology. Lumen. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/culturalanthropology/chapter/human-adaptations/.
Why Experiencing a New Culture Is Good for You. JRPass.com. (2020, December 29). https://www.jrpass.com/blog/why-experiencing-a-new-culture-is-good-for-you.