Evolution and Psychology (First edition)

By: Scott A. MacDougall-Shackleton

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Synopsis: Evolution and Psychology is a critical exploration of how evolutionary approaches can be used to understand the human mind and behaviour. Written for undergraduate students in the social sciences, this text provides an accessible introduction to foundational concepts in evolutionary biology. It then explores evolutionary perspectives on key psychological topics such as cognition, development, group dynamics, mate choice, language and communication, psychopathology, and culture. An interdisciplinary approach is woven throughout, integrating evolutionary psychology with insights from behavioural ecology, anthropology, genetics, and neuroscience. You will learn to think critically about evolutionary explanations, with Warning Flag features throughout the text that address frequently misunderstood topics, common fallacies, and historical misuses and abuses of applying evolutionary theory to human behaviour. This is an essential read for students of Evolutionary Psychology and anyone looking for a contemporary overview of this complex and captivating field. Scott A. MacDougall-Shackleton is Professor of Psychology at Western University.