Darwin's postulates form the foundation of evolutionary theory: 1) The ability of a population to expand is infinite, but environmental support is finite, leading to a 'struggle for existence'; 2) Variation exists within populations, affecting individual survival and reproduction—termed 'differential reproductive success'; 3) These variations are heritable, passed from parents to offspring through 'sex'. These principles explain the process of natural selection and how adaptive traits evolve to ensure survival and reproduction .

Genetic variability is crucial in evolutionary biology as it provides the raw material for natural selection to act upon, enabling populations to adapt to changing environments. A balance must be struck between variability and functionality; that is, while a species requires genetic diversity to withstand environmental changes and avoid deleterious consequences, it must also maintain functional design universality to survive and reproduce. Populations tend to demonstrate more genetic variability within them than between different populations, emphasizing the importance of broad genetic resources .

Reciprocal altruism explains how cooperative behavior among non-kin could evolve, rooted in the concept that altruistic acts are repaid over time, benefiting both parties involved. In terms of human social behavior, it illuminates the adaptive nature of cooperation beyond genetic relationships, as individuals who engage in reciprocal altruism enhance their survival and reproduction probabilities by forming social bonds and alliances. This behavior plays a crucial role in maintaining social harmony and cohesive group dynamics, which are critical for enduring evolutionary challenges .

The Red Queen hypothesis posits that organisms must continuously adapt and evolve not merely to gain reproductive advantage but to maintain fitness relative to other evolving organisms. In the context of sexual reproduction, it suggests that sex generates genetic diversity, allowing offspring to better cope with parasitic threats and environmental changes. This constant 'arms race' ensures that populations remain fit and adaptable despite evolutionary pressure, highlighting why sexual reproduction persists as an efficient evolutionary strategy despite its relative complexity and cost .

Prepared learning, an evolved cognitive ability, enables humans to rapidly acquire certain fears, which are advantageous for survival. For instance, humans have an instinctual tendency to fear predators—like the threat perception of snakes or large carnivores—a skill developed over evolutionary time. Such fears are easily learned due to their direct implications on survival and thus are encoded in the human brain as part of innate psychological mechanisms, demonstrating how some fears are naturally easier to condition than others owing to evolutionary advantages .

Human universals, such as language, social structures, and emotion expressions, are foundational elements of evolutionary psychology. They are often argued to be derived more from innate nature—genetic predispositions shaped by natural selection—rather than mere universal experience. For instance, the consistency of social structures, incest avoidance, or basic emotional expressions across diverse cultures suggests evolutionary roots rather than learned behaviors. These universals indicate embedded cognitive schemas that provide adaptive value, supporting the argument that innate human nature plays a more critical role in their emergence .

Innate cognitive mechanisms in humans are species-typical behaviors enabling decision-making around evolutionarily stable (ES) problems. They involve perceiving and recognizing essential environmental inputs to establish if an ES problem exists, choosing between potential solutions based on gathered information, and attaching proper emotions to drive actions towards those solutions. By these means, humans can effectively and adaptively address challenges inherent in their environments, ensuring survival and reproduction .

The 'vehicles vs. units of selection' debate pertains to whether natural selection acts primarily on genes ('units') or on organisms ('vehicles'). This debate has profound implications for understanding trait evolution. Viewing organisms as vehicles posits that they are merely platforms for genes to achieve replication. However, focusing solely on genetic selection negates the complex interactions between genes, organisms, and environments. A comprehensive evolutionary theory recognizes that while genes may be fundamental units, the phenotype—and hence, the organism—plays a critical role in exhibiting adaptive traits that ensure gene propagation. This dual-level understanding enables a more nuanced interpretation of how traits evolve through both genetic and phenotypic lenses .

Human behaviors like language acquisition and social cooperation evolve through similar principles of natural selection as other physical traits. For instance, innate language capabilities resemble how some species develop communication methods for survival. Social cooperativity among humans can be likened to 'large coalitions' seen in ants, which involve complex systems of labor division and communal benefits, illustrating how both humans and other species have adapted behaviors through evolutionary pressures for enhanced survival .

Evolutionary psychology explains that human behavior is primarily driven by adaptations that are products of natural selection. These adaptations—perceived as a bundle of mono-specific features—interact with environmental inputs, both developmentally and in activating different strategies, to motivate behavior. As the environment poses evolutionary stable (ES) problems, the mind is hardwired to perceive these issues, choose appropriate solutions through decision-making rules, and apply corresponding emotional states to drive actions that ultimately lead to reproduction and survival .