The course will synthesize the modern principles of psychology with evolutionary theory in exploring human behavior through time and across cultures. The course will explore theory and research on human behavior from an evolutionary perspective, including the evolution of morality, culture and consciousness. Students will learn the basic principles underlying evolution, from Darwin to the modern genetic synthesis, and will explore how these principles provide understanding of the complexities and perplexities underlying human behavior. We will investigate how we solve adaptive problems relating to our survival, group living, mating, and parenting. Further, we will investigate the implications of evolutionary principles for developing a theory of mind, for exploring the cognitive origins of art, religion and science; and for understanding the nature of the self.
PSY 101 or BIO 102