EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY

The course provides a framework for independent, in-depth study of current research literature on evolutionary approaches to psychology. Evolution is a powerful but problematic theory in science, as evolutionary theory is considered by some to be untestable, and by others to have undesirable but unavoidable political and moral consequences, especially when applied to human social behavior. This course considers theories in evolutionary biology of social behavior (natural selection, sexual selection, kin selection, reciprocity, and parental investment), the contemporary issues in the subject area, and the role of empirical evidence in the formation of theory.