Course description

Evolutionary theory provides us with a coherent theoretical framework to investigate and explain human behavior. In this seminar for advanced undergraduate students, students will learn the principles of evolutionary theory and how to use them to explain various behaviors such as mating, group formation and communication in humans and other animals. This course will take an interdisciplinary approach. Starting with evolutionary theory, it will incorporate concepts and findings from genetics, behavioral ecology, neuroscience, and psychology. The comparative study of behavior will demonstrate how natural selection has produced a variety of mechanisms that allow members of the species Homo sapiens to survive and reproduce in their particular environments.
 

Syllabus

Textbook:
Cartwright, J., Evolution and Human Behavior. Second Edition. MIT Press, 2008.
 

9/8 Introduction: Organization of course, how to give an oral presentation

9/15 Tinbergen’s four questions

9/22 Principles of evolutionary theory I: Natural selection

9/29 Principles of evolutionary theory II: Unit of selection

10/6 Sexual selection

10/13 Mating systems, parental care

10/20 Midterm

10/27 Social behavior; living in groups, conflict

11/3 Election Day

11/10 Social behavior: cooperation

11/17 Evolution of communication

11/24 Evolution of cognition

12/1 Culture and morals

12/8 Evolution and human behavior

12/16 Term paper due

Course requirements

Each week, students will attend a two-hour seminar. During the first hour, the instructor will give a formal lecture covering the topics listed in the syllabus. The second hour is devoted to the presentation and discussion of empirical papers that illustrate the topic of the preceding lecture. Two students sign up for a paper, prepare it together, and one of them presents it in class. Both students then lead the discussion of the paper engaging the whole group. Each student is required to present two papers in class. Both presentations are graded.

The students take a written midterm exam with essay questions covering the material presented in class. During the second half of the semester, the students write a term paper, due on the end of the Reading Week.  The 10-15 page paper should take the form of a critical review paper that addresses a specific question related to the topics of the seminar.

Grading is allocated as follows:
Midterm exam                             30%
Term paper                                  30%
Paper presentations                     30%
Attendance and Participation     10%