Evolutionary psychology contributes to our understanding of learning and education by highlighting how our cognitive abilities and learning preferences have been shaped by evolutionary forces. For instance, humans have evolved to be particularly adept at learning through imitation and storytelling, methods that were crucial in passing down survival-relevant information in pre-literate societies. This understanding can influence educational practices, suggesting that incorporating storytelling and observational learning could be more effective than purely abstract approaches. Furthermore, evolutionary psychology sheds light on why certain subjects, like those involving understanding of natural environments and social dynamics, might be more intuitively grasped by students, as these areas would have been critical for ancestral survival. By considering these evolutionary underpinnings, educators can develop more engaging and effective teaching methods that align with our innate learning processes.

Evolutionary psychology can explain the prevalence of certain phobias, like claustrophobia, as evolutionary adaptations. Claustrophobia – the fear of being in confined spaces – could be rooted in our ancestors' need to avoid entrapment or situations where escape was difficult. Such scenarios would have posed significant risks, including vulnerability to predators and inability to access food and other resources. An innate fear of confined spaces would have been advantageous for survival, as it would encourage individuals to avoid potentially dangerous situations. This fear, when translated to modern-day contexts, can manifest as claustrophobia. Despite the relative safety of such environments today, the deep-rooted evolutionary response persists, illustrating the lasting impact of our evolutionary history on modern psychological phenomena.

Evolutionary psychology views personality traits like introversion and extraversion as adaptations to ancestral environments that have had different survival and reproductive advantages. For instance, extraversion, characterized by sociability and assertiveness, may have been advantageous in forming alliances, securing mates, and gaining access to resources. In contrast, introversion, involving a preference for smaller social settings and reflective thinking, could have been beneficial in scenarios requiring caution and careful planning. These traits likely represent different evolutionary strategies that have been preserved due to their respective advantages in certain environmental contexts. The variation in these traits within a population ensures a diverse range of skills and behaviours, increasing the overall adaptability of the group.

Evolutionary psychology explains altruistic behaviour in humans as a result of evolutionary processes like kin selection and reciprocal altruism. Kin selection theory suggests that individuals are more likely to engage in self-sacrificing behaviour when it benefits close relatives. This is because it increases the likelihood of their shared genes being passed on. Reciprocal altruism, on the other hand, is based on the principle of "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine." It suggests that individuals are more likely to help others with the expectation that the favour will be returned in the future. This creates a cooperative environment that enhances the survival chances of all involved. These evolutionary strategies have been vital in forming complex social structures and maintaining group harmony, key factors in the survival and prosperity of human populations.

Evolutionary psychology posits that the fear of snakes and spiders in modern humans can be attributed to an evolved response from our ancestors' environments, where such fears were adaptive. In ancestral times, encountering snakes or spiders often posed a significant threat, as many species are venomous and could lead to death or severe injury. This threat would have made an innate wariness or fear of these creatures beneficial for survival. Consequently, individuals who possessed and passed down this fear were more likely to survive and reproduce. Over generations, this fear became widespread. Today, despite living in much safer environments, this primal fear persists in many people, illustrating an evolutionary mismatch where an adaptive trait in ancestral environments becomes less relevant or even maladaptive in modern contexts.