Lecture: 4 hours/week
In this course, students engage in a variety of learning activities such as:
- Lecturing
- Participating in class activities and demonstrations
- Viewing of audiovisual material.
- Article readings
- Presentations
- Discussions.
Introduction to Darwin – evolutionary theory, and evolutionary psychology.
Evolution – natural selection & genetics.
Adaptations – their nature and study.
Life history theory and game theory.
Sexual selection theory – mating strategies and attraction.
Inclusive fitness theory – altruism and conflict within families.
Cooperation among non-kin – reciprocal altruism theory and other explanations.
Aggression and warfare.
Evolution and culture, mismatch theory.
Upon successful completion of the course the learner will be able to:
- Describe the process of natural selection, including basic genetics and types of selection pressures.
- Distinguish between ultimate and proximate causation.
- Describe the characteristics of adaptations and be able to provide examples.
- Identify the assumptions of evolutionary psychology and be able to contrast it with other evolutionary perspectives.
- Explain the operation and outcomes of sexual selection.
- Discuss current research and theories on attraction and mating strategies.
- Demonstrate an understanding of inclusive fitness theory, kin selection, and the evolution of nepotism.
- Give examples and discuss theories of both cooperation and conflict among kin.
- Discuss the theories of altruism and cooperation among non-kin, including reciprocal altruism, indirect reciprocity, group selection, commitment theory and others.
- Discuss the nature and functions of aggression and conflict.
- Describe the relationship between our evolved psychology and culture.
- Discuss how the modern environment may produce mismatches and maladaptive behaviours.
The course evaluation will be in accordance with Douglas College Evaluation and Psychology Department policies. Evaluations will be based on the course objectives.
Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in the course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.
The specific evaluation criteria will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.
An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:
Test #1: 20%
Test #2: 20%
Final exam: 25%
Group presentation: 15%
Term paper: 20%
Total 100%
Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students
Textbook(s) such as the following, the list to be updated periodically:
Buss, D. (current edition). Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind.
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