Evolutionary Theory of Personality rests with the thought that evolution is the origin of personality and is caused by the interaction between the environment and the body and brain. This assumes that individuals belonging to a group of species vary from each other and have evolved using adaptive strategies. The prominent theorist of evolutionary psychology is David Buss. He proposed that personality formation revolves around adaptive problems and their solutions or mechanisms.
Much like how Charles Darwin proposed the notion of the survival of the fittest in natural selection, in evolutionary psychology, an individual will survive by developing psychological mechanisms to solve the everyday problems of life. Psychological mechanisms are internal cognitive, motivational, and personal systems that answer survival and preproduction problems. The three main categories of psychological mechanisms are goals, drives, and emotions. Goals and drives that act as evolved mechanisms are power and intimacy, which can take the forms of dominance, achievements, love, attachment, and camaraderie. Personally, I have fostered within me goals as an evolved mechanism. To keep up with the fast-changing world, I have to step up my goals. I plan to achieve more, develop my status, and form trusted and quality circle of people. Another evolved mechanism is emotion, and it is important because it directly alerts me in either harmful or beneficial situations. Through time I believe I have managed my emotions well, balancing when, where, and how I will use them to my advantage. For example, when something did not go according to what I planned, emotions of frustration and anger tend to linger in me. However, through time and exposure to similar situations, I learned not to be carried away with emotions, especially when making decisions. Lastly is personality. Having a unique personality is considered a strategy in solving adaptive problems. The personality I have gives me an advantage over the others in certain situations. It is within my judgment and capabilities of how I can make the most of my personality to thrive and survive.
