SUBJECT

Evolutionary Social Psychology

lecture

master

Faculty of Education and Psychology

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2 Semester

Spring semester

Aim of the course:

Students shall first learn about the basic principles of evolutionary theory and its applications to psychological phenomena, and develop an understanding of what an evolutionary approach can bring to our knowledge of human behavior and mental processes: that natural selection affects not only morphological features and physiological processes of living beings, but also the nervous system, the brain, and thus mental processes and behavior, even in humans. Then the course proceeds to reviewing state-of-the-art theories and research in evolutionary psychology, with a focus on social psychological topics.

Learning outcome, competences

knowledge:

• Knowledge of the most important theories in evolutionary psychology, with a special regard to topics relevant in social psychology (e.g. mating, groups, and intergroup relations)
• Knowledge of specific state-of-the-art research in evolutionary psychology

attitude:

• Studying a scientific manner, students shall be able to approach the phenomena investigated by evolutionary psychology in an unbiased way, using the theoretical and methodological tools of the scientific approach

skills:

• Ability to read and assess the professional literature in English, methodological erudition

Content of the course

Topics of the course

• Basics of evolutionary psychology
• What does the evolutionary approach have to offer to social psychology?
• Social cognition from an evolutionary point of view
• Conscious and automatic processes
• Altruism: kin selection, reciprocitiy, and signaling
• Evolutionary approaches to mating strategies and romantic relationships
• Within-group processes (e.g. dominance, leadership, and ostracism)
• Intergroup relationships and prejudice from an evolutionary point of view

Learning activities, learning methods

• Although the course is a lecture, attendance will be mandatory. The lecturer will talk for about half of the time, the other half will be spent with student presentations and discussions. Homework shall also be given.

Evaluation of outcomes

Learning requirements, mode of evaluation, criteria of evaluation:

requirements

• Attendance
• Presentations
• Participation in discussions at class
• Homework

mode of evaluation: 5 point grade with a type C exam (continuous work)

criteria of evaluation:

• Quality and quantity of the work done

Compulsory reading list

• Dunbar, R., Barrett, L., Lycett, J. (2007) Evolutionary psychology: A beginner’s guide. Oneworld Books.
• Current and now-classic journal articles in evolutionary psychology (e.g. papers from the journal Evolution and Human Behavior) – the list of theses shall be given in the specific course description for each semester. The lecturer may also give searching and collection of literature for a given topic as homework.
• Any further readings to be specified in the course description for each semester.

Recommended reading list

If any, it shall be specified in the course description for each