Evolutionary Psychology

Ø Why do humans live in social groups? Ø What is the purpose of culture and why is it important? Ø How did human language develop and what distinguishes it from other animal communication systems? Evolutionary Psychology offers a comprehensive and lucid overview of the main ideas, issues and debates in this field, tackling a wide range of fascinating questions that are pertinent to our understanding of modern life. Uniquely, the book balances the three key perspectives on evolutionary theory, providing an insight into how our brain mechanisms, behavioural strategies and learning capacity have all contributed to our evolution. The book first guides the reader through the foundations of evolutionary psychology, drawing on research and key theories, before discussing the future directions of this field. Cover Contents Part 1 Basics 1 The history of evolutionary psychology Learning outcomes 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Emergence from three sciences 1.3 Biology 1.4 Psychology 1.5 Neuroscience 1.6 Summary Study questions Suggested reading 2 Problems and solutions in evolution Learning outcomes 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Evolutionary approaches to problems 2.3 Genome, nervous system and culture as solutions 2.4 Levels of complexity 2.5 Replaying the tape of life 2.6 Summary Study questions Suggested reading 3 The place of humans in evolution Learning outcomes 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The geological timescale 3.3 From the ladder of life to the tree of life 3.4 We are primates 3.5 What makes us human? 3.6 Summary Study questions Suggested reading Part 2 Problems 4 Males and females Learning outcomes 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The origin of sexual reproduction 4.3 The theory of sexual selection 4.4 Mating systems in human evolution 4.5 Mate preferences of men and women 4.6 Summary Study questions Suggested reading 5 Fathers, mothers and others Learning outcomes 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Inbreeding avoidance 5.3 Origin of the human family 5.4 When mothers needed assistance 5.5 Parent–offspring conflict 5.6 Summary Study questions Suggested reading 6 The evolution of social life Learning outcomes 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Why live socially? 6.3 The social evolution of primates 6.4 Solutions to the problem of cooperation 6.5 Cognitive capacities for cooperation 6.6 Summary Study questions Suggested reading 7 The origin and expression of emotions Learning outcomes 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Why did emotions evolve? 7.3 Facial expressions in primates 7.4 The neural basis of emotions 7.5 The emergence of social emotions 7.6 Summary Study questions Suggested reading 8 Brain and cognition Learning outcomes 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Evolution of the brain 8.3 Cognitive capacities in apes and corvids 8.4 Selection pressures for great ape cognition 8.5 Social cognition in chimpanzees and humans 8.6 Summary Study questions Suggested reading 9 The origins of language Learning outcomes 9.1 Introduction 9.2 The origin of flexible communication 9.3 The gestural origin of language 9.4 The vocal origin of language 9.5 The cognitive origin of language 9.6 Summary Study questions Suggested reading 10 Culture in evolution Learning outcomes 10.1 Introduction 10.2 What is culture? 10.3 Cultural inheritance 10.4 How culture is incorporated in evolutionary theory 10.5 Cumulative cultural evolution 10.6 Summary Study questions Suggested reading Part 3 Specials 11 The evolutionary paradox of mental illness Learning outcomes 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Defining mental illness 11.3 Distinguishing normal responses from mental disorders 11.4 Explaining the adaptive function of mental illness 11.5 Summary Study questions Suggested reading 12 Evolution through development Learning outcomes 12.1 Introduction 12.2 The rise of evo-devo 12.3 Types of developmental reorganisation 12.4 Why mammals play 12.5 How play evolved through development 12.6 Summary Study questions Suggested reading Glossary References Index Ø Why do humans live in social groups? Ø How did human language develop and what distinguishes it from other animal communication systems? __Evolutionary Psychology__ offers a comprehensive and lucid overview of the main ideas, issues and debates in this field, tackling a wide range of fascinating questions that are pertinent to our understanding of modern life. The book first guides the reader through the foundations of evolutionary psychology, drawing on research and key theories, before discussing the future directions of this field.