Evolutionary psychology is a branch of psychology that seeks to explain human behavior and cognitive processes in terms of their adaptive value and evolutionary origins. It posits that many psychological characteristics and behaviors are the result of natural selection acting on ancestral populations over time. Evolutionary psychologists study how various psychological mechanisms may have evolved to help humans survive and reproduce in their environments. This approach is used to understand a wide range of human behaviors, such as mating preferences, parental care, social relationships, and decision-making processes.