Psychology W3460x Evolution of Behavior. Fall 2009
Christoph Wiedenmayer
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%