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Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychology. Overview of The Day What is Evolutionary Psychology and Why Study it? The Nature of This Course Course Requirements Books and Other Readings PSY 332 is a University Program (UP) Course (Group IV-A). What is Evolutionary Psychology?.

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Evolutionary Psychology

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  1. Evolutionary Psychology Overview of The Day What is Evolutionary Psychology and Why Study it? The Nature of This Course Course Requirements Books and Other Readings PSY 332 is a University Program (UP) Course (Group IV-A)

  2. What is Evolutionary Psychology? • Evolutionary Psychology asks “why” questions about human behavior. • Evolutionary Psychology is concerned with thought, emotional, and behavioral patterns common to all humans. • Evolutionary Psychology asks is concerned with function (the purpose of something) and adaptation (how it contributes to survival and reproduction)

  3. Examples • Why do pregnant women avoid certain foods and crave other foods, primarily during their first trimester? • Why do young children dislike eating vegetables? • Why do most men find young, shapely women desirable mates?

  4. Why it is Important to Study Evolutionary Psychology • It provides an over-arching theory for understanding psychological phenomena • It provides an alternative view of human nature to the traditional “blank slate” view • How we view human nature has important implications for practical matters (education, law, child welfare) • The 21st century will probably be the century of biology, just as the 20th century was the century of physics

  5. A Definition • Evolutionary psychology is a synthesis of modern psychology and evolutionary biology. It utilizes the logic of evolutionary theory to examine human behavior and mental processes. In particular, evolutionary psychology is concerned with the origins and functions of characteristically human behaviors and mental activity—and how they were (and now may or may not be) adaptive in responding to particular classes of stimuli. It integrates concepts and research from evolutionary biology with basic psychological phenomena.

  6. Evolutionary Psychology and Traditional Psychology • Explanations for: language, sex, learning math • The role of culture and learning • Implications for interventions • How useful is training? What type of training works best? The role of experts • Forward vs. reverse engineering

  7. Overview of the Course • Course and Learning Objectives • Course Format • Course Requirements • Student Presentations • Exams • Class Participation

  8. Books and Readings • Required Book • Optional Books • Reserve Room Readings

  9. University Program Course • PSY 332 (Evolutionary Psychology) is a UP course • Group IV-A

  10. The Syllabus • Read over syllabus • Discuss in group with the goal of: • Formulating 3 or 4 questions about the syllabus or course

  11. Tell Us About Yourself • Your name • Educational and/or career goals • Why you are taking this course • What you hope to get out of the course

  12. Summary • What is Evolutionary Psychology • Examples • Why it is Important to Study it • Course Requirements • Books and Other Readings

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