PC6058 - Evolutionary Psychology (2017/18)
Module specification | Module approved to run in 2017/18 | ||||||||||||
Module title | Evolutionary Psychology | ||||||||||||
Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||||
Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||
School | School of Social Sciences | ||||||||||||
Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||
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Assessment components |
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Running in 2017/18(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module builds on the foundational knowledge of evolutionary psychology acquired in Level 5. Students will delve deeper into the topic through studying a mixture of textbook readings and research papers, and by engaging in class discussions and presentations.
Module aims
The aims of the module are:
1. To develop students’ understanding of ultimate explanations of mind and behaviour;
2. To develop students’ ability to read, understand and critically evaluate research in the area;
3. To develop students’ ability and confidence in discussing ideas in evolutionary psychology.
Syllabus
Topics will be drawn from: mating strategies, sexual jealousy, cheater detection, pregnancy sickness, parental nurturance and negligence, spatial memory, landscape preferences, aggression and violence. evolution of cognition (e.g. language, reasoning), evolution of the brain, animal behaviour.
Learning and teaching
The strategy will involve a combination of lectures, discussions and presentations, including both directed and exploratory reading. Online sharing of thoughts and ideas will be encouraged, in addition to some formative online testing.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course students will:
1. Be able to explain the fundamental concepts that distinguish the evolutionary approach to psychology from non-evolutionary approaches;
2. Be able to critically evaluate research relating to evolutionary explanations of mind and behaviour;
Assessment strategy
Summative assessment will be via a coursework component essay of 2500 words (50%), and a Powerpoint presentation of 10 slides (50%)
Bibliography
Books
Barkow, J.H., Cosmides, L., & Tooby, J. (1992). The adapted mind: Evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Buss, David M. (2011). Evolutionary psychology: The new science of the mind (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Campbell, A. (2013). A mind of her own: The evolutionary psychology of women (2nd edition). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Crawford, C., & Krebs, D. (Eds.) (2008). Foundations of evolutionary psychology. NY: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Emery, N., Clayton, N., & Frith, C. (2007). Social intellligence: From brain to culture. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Journals (available via library catalogue and/or open access)
Evolution and Human Behavior
Evolutionary Psychology
Human Nature
Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
Science