PS490-6-AU-CO:
Evolutionary Psychology: How natural and sexual selection helped shape the human mind

PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
The details
2023/24
Psychology
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 6
Inactive
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
15
15 November 2023

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

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Module description

In this module, you will be introduced to key concepts of evolutionary theory as pertaining to human psychology, and will engage with current literature, including recent findings and theory within evolutionary psychology. We will look at how natural selection and reproductive success may have driven fundamentals of the human experience.


To understand the present, we must understand the past. To understand modern-day behaviour of humans, we must understand how evolution is likely to have shaped our species, the mechanisms that do this and the unique challenges that humans have faced.

Module aims

The aim of this module is:



  • To introduce students to the key concepts of evolutionary theory as pertaining to human psychology, and engaging them with current literature in this rapidly advancing area of science.

Module learning outcomes

By ;the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Demonstrate understanding of the relevance of evolution to the scientific study of human behaviour and cognition.

  2. Identify and explain the key concepts and frameworks that underlie evolutionary approaches to psychology.

  3. Identify, understand and discuss major findings and fields within evolutionary psychology and how these are determined by evolutionary mechanisms.

Module information

Indicative syllabus



  • Introduction to evolutionary theory


What is evolution, evolutionary forces, components of natural selection, levels of explanation (proximate v ultimate), relative v absolute fitness, human origins, adaptations, Tinbergen's four questions.



  • Intimate relationships.


Mate choice, sexual selection, mating strategies, costly signalling, fitness indicators.



  • Thinking.


Reasoning, learning, language, problem-solving, EEA, theory of mind, Social Brain Hypothesis, intelligence, runaway brain, language, creativity & art.



  • Personality and individual differences.


Social niches, polymorphisms, developmental plasticity, frequency-dependent selection, tit-for-tat and related forms.



  • Cooperation and altruism.


Levels of selection, multilevel selection, reciprocity, indirect reciprocity, strong reciprocity, costly signalling theory, social exchange, cheater detection, evolutionary game theory.



  • Parenting and kinship.


Parental investment, conflict between the sexes, inclusive fitness, kinship, incest avoidance and Westermarck effect.



  • Emotions.


Role of emotions, emotions & cognition, disease & disgust, incest & disgust, depression, jealousy.



  • Aggression, violence, warfare and terrorism.


Status, prestige, and dominance hierarchies, relatedness and aggression, sex differences in aggression, group conflicts, territoriality, reconciliation.



  • Darwinian medicine.


Evolution and health, mismatch between environment and us, evolution of virulence & how humans affect this, pregnancy sickness, how humans interfere with evolution's hard work - Fever & Iron supplements.



  • Culture evolved.


Nature/nurture, gene-environment interactions, cultural evolution, human behavioural ecology, cultural capacity as a trait.



  • Aggression, violence, warfare and terrorism.


Status, prestige, and dominance hierarchies, relatedness and aggression, sex differences in aggression, group conflicts, territoriality, reconciliation.



  • Darwin medicine.


Evolution and health, mismatch between environment and us, evolution of virulence & how humans affect this, pregnancy sickness, how humans interfere with evolution's hard work - Fever & Iron supplements.



  • Culture.


Nature/nurture, gene-environment interactions, cultural evolution, human behavioural ecology, cultural capacity as a trait.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • One 1-hour lecture per week.

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have any essential texts. To see non - essential items, please refer to the module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Exam  Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 24hr during January 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 24hr during September (Reassessment Period) 

Additional coursework information

The coursework assessment will be based on:

  • MCQ coursework test on the first 4 or 5 weeks of the module. (25%)
  • Online participation on Moodle (5%)

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
30% 70%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
30% 70%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Rick O'Gorman, email: rogorman@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Rick O'Gorman
email: rogorman@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
No

External examiner

Dr Paula Miles
University of St Andrews
Director of Teaching, Senior Lecturer
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 52 hours, 49 (94.2%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
3 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Psychology

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