Evolution, psychology and human nature - Summer 2006 version 1.3 - (updates in red)
Course overview
Contemporary theory and research in psychology and the behavioral sciences largely derives from the premise that human behavior is best seen as a product of brain and not merely mind. To begin to study the implications of this perspective, we might consider, for example,
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cognitive science, which understands behavior as a product of the processing of information, |
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cognitive neuroscience, which examines the correspondence between mental experience and activity in the brain, |
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behavioral genetics, which examines the role of inheritance of complex human traits, or |
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psychopharmacology, which has transformed psychotherapy from a social process to a medical one. |
We will touch on each of these, but will spend most of our time examining a fifth area of study, i.e.
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evolutionary psychology, which explores the extent to which natural selection and its implications can inform our understanding of thoughts, feelings, and behavior. |
We will examine the premise of natural selection and its implications (Dawkins' The Selfish Gene), consider the different evolutionary perspectives within the human sciences (Laland and Brown's Sense and Nonsense), and closely consider some representative research within the field or fields. Our discussions will range from the minutiae of methodology (how studies are done) to philosophical reflections about what it all means for us, and the implications of an essentially deterministic, somewhat reductionistic, and non Homo-centric world view.
Grades will be based on the following:
| Area | Weight | Notes |
| Attendance and participation | 15% | Attendance is required. A good participation grade will be earned by reading the material in a timely fashion, and coming to class prepared to ask questions about the material. |
| Papers | 25 | Papers are described below. |
| Exam 1 | 20 | The midterm will likely include essays and short answers. A study sheet will be given to you prior to the exam that will help give you a sense of what to expect. |
| Exam 2 | 25 | The final exam will be "cumulative." |
| Presentations | 15 | Each student will be presenting on one occasion at our institute-wide symposia |
Readings
Dawkins, R. (2006). The Selfish Gene: 30th Anniversary ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Laland, K. N. & Brown, G. R. (2002). Sense and Nonsense: evolutionary perspectives on human behavior. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Additional papers (see below). Underscored papers are hyperlinks, others may be accessed through our library subscription to PsycInfo at http://www.psycinfo.com/psycinfo/fsearch.
In enrolling in this course, students agree to abide by the Honor Code of the college, whose full text can be found here.
Lecture topics and readings
Projected dates and curriculum content are given below. Note that the pace of the course is accelerated, and that students are encouraged to make every effort to stay on top of the readings.
Please consult http://wise.fau.edu/~lanning/ids1930/index.htm frequently, as dates are subject to change.
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Date |
Topic |
Reading |
Other assignments |
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July 10 |
Thinking about a biologically grounded psychology: From the "astonishing hypothesis"
to a sampling of research in evolutionary
psychology
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(note: readings for the first class will take place during our meeting;
for subsequent meetings, readings should be completed before class) Ramachandran (2006) The brain in the vat one of the following short papers... Provine, R. R. (2004). Laughter, tickling and the evolution of speech and self. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13. Diamond, L. M. (2004). Emerging Perspectives on Distinctions Between Romantic Love and Sexual Desire. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13. Ohman, A, & Mineka, S. (2003). The malicious serpent: Snakes as a prototypical stimulus for an evolved module of fear. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12. |
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11 |
A history of controversy | Laland, Chapter 2 Coyne (2005): The case against intelligent design Laland, Chapter 1; remaining papers from yesterday (optional) |
Paper 1 |
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12 |
The premise of natural selection | Dawkins, Foreword and Chapters 1-4 | |
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13 |
Evolutionarily stable strategies | Dawkins, Chapter 5 What do you believe to be true yet cannot prove? (pgs 1-3 only) |
Prepare for presentation: Group 1 |
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14 |
Competition | Dawkins, Chapters 6-8 Background readings from today: Scheper-Hughes, N. (1985) Culture, scarcity, and maternal thinking: Maternal detachment and infant survival in a Brazilian shantytown. Ethos, 13, 291-317. Mealey, L. (1995) The sociobiology of sociopathy: An integrated evolutionary model. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 18, 523-599.
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Have your topic for paper 2 approved (Note: sample exam questions and my initial responses may be found here). |
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17 |
Reconsidering human sociobiology | Dawkins Chapters 9-10 Laland, Chapter 3 Pinel, J. P. J., Assanand, S., & Lehman, D. R. (2000). Hunger, eating, and ill health. American Psychologist, 55, 1105-1116. |
Paper 2 (Note: your sample exam questions and my initial responses may be found here). |
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18 |
Behavioral ecology | Laland, Chapter 4 | Review
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19 |
Exam 1 | ||
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20 |
Introduction to evolutionary psychology |
Schmitt D. P. and Pilcher J. J. (2004). Evaluating evidence of psychological adaptation: how do we know one when we see one? Psychological Science, 15, 643–49. Nell, V. (2002) Why young men drive dangerously: Implications for injury prevention. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 11. |
Prepare for presentation: Group 2 |
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21 |
Finish Schmitt and Nell papers from
yesterday. Laland, Chapter 5 What do you believe to be true yet cannot prove? (pages 4-6) |
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24 |
Some ambitious applications of evolutionary psychology | Rhodes, G. (2006). The evolutionary psychology of facial beauty. Annual
Review of Psychology, 57, 199-226. Draper, P., & Belsky, J. (1990). Personality development in evolutionary perspective. Journal of Personality, 58, 141-161.
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Have your topic for paper 3 approved |
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25 |
Other perspectives |
de Waal, F. B. M. (2002). Evolutionary psychology: the wheat and the chaff. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 11, 187-191. Eagly, A. H., & Wood, W. (1999). The origins of sex differences in human behavior: Evolved dispositions versus social roles. American Psychologist, 54, 408-423. |
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26 |
Biological and cultural evolution | Dawkins, Chapter 11 Kirkpatrick, L. A. (1999). Toward an evolutionary psychology of religion and personality. Journal of Personality, 67, 921-952. Laland, Chapters 6 |
Paper 3 due |
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27 |
Integration | Laland, Chapter 8 What do you believe to be true yet cannot prove? (pages 7-10)
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Prepare for presentation: Group 3 Review |
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28 |
Exam 2 | ||
Paper 1: Approximately 2 pages, double spaced. Topic: "Some initial thoughts on evolutionary psychology." Paper should evaluate one or more of the articles by Diamond, Ohman, and Provine. Paper should be emailed to lanning@fau.edu by 9 AM July 11 for credit.
Paper 2: Approximately 3-5 pages, double spaced. Topic must be approved by Dr. Lanning in class on July 14 - some possibilities: "The most important idea in The Selfish Gene"; "The most important type of competition in our evolutionary history"; "The most important mechanism leading to human cooperation," etc.. Paper should be emailed to lanning@fau.edu by 9 AM July 17 for credit.
Paper 3: Approximately 3-5 pages, double spaced. Topic must be approved by Dr. Lanning in class on July 24 - some possibilities: "Integrating behavioral ecology and evolutionary psychology: An evaluation of several predictions of the Draper-Belsky model," "The role of symmetry in the perception of beauty," "An evolutionary perspective on risk-taking," etc. Paper should be emailed to lanning@fau.edu by 9 AM July 26 for credit.
(Note - length of 3 papers must be no longer than 10 pages altogether).
Up to Dr. Kevin Lanning, Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
Revised 07/24/06