PS_BB024 Introduction to evolutionary psychology

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2017
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
prof. Mgr. Anton Heretik, PhD. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Zdenka Stránská, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: PhDr. Irena Komendová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 15:50–17:25 G31
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Students will be able to apply knowledge from evolutionary psychology as a broader framework for understanding social psychology and mental psychology, and ideally also in their own lives.
Learning outcomes
Úspěšným absolvováním kurzu si student osvojí základy evoluční psychologie se zaměřením na současné trendy evoluční psychologie v oblasti základních kognitivních procesů a sociální neurovědy.
Syllabus
  • History and basic of evolutionary theory (Darwin, Hamilton, Dawkins). Basic terms and concepts of evolutionary theory (evolution, adaptation, natural selection, gen). Causality and different explanation levels in evolutionary theory (Tinbergen, Buss). Areas of evolutionary psychology (EP) in regarding of goals and research methods. Classical bioevolutionary psychology – basic topics: sexuality, nurturing of progeny. Social evolutionary psychology and it´s areas I: cooperation, rivalvry, coalitions, social evolution and culture. Social evolutionary psychology and it´s areas II: machiavelistic inteligence, morality. Modularity in the context of evolutionary psychology (Fodor, Chomsky, Tooby a Cosmides and others). Module types and current views and critics of theory of modularity. Cognitive processes in view of evolutionary psychology. EP in language and communication (Dunbar, Pinker). Social Brain – social cognition. Theory of mind, mirroring neurons, disorders of social cognitions from perspective of EP. Future trends and critical evalution of evolutionary psychology.
Literature
    required literature
  • BARRETT, Louise, R. I. M. DUNBAR and John LYCETT. Evoluční psychologie člověka. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2007, 551 s. ISBN 9788071789697. info
  • Vybraná studie z oblasti evoluční psychologie publikována v odborném časopise
    recommended literature
  • ZARATE, Oscar. Evoluční psychologie. Edited by Dylan Evans. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2002, 175 s. ISBN 807178611X. info
  • WRIGHT, Robert. Morální zvíře. Translated by Antonín Hradilek - Hana Žantovská. Praha: Lidové noviny, 2011, 452 s. ISBN 9788074220753. info
    not specified
  • DUNBAR, R. I. M. Příběh rodu Homo : nové dějiny evoluce člověka. Translated by Jana Enderlová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2009, 222 s. ISBN 9788020017154. info
  • RIDLEY, Matt. Červená královna : [sexualita a vývoj lidské přirozenosti]. Translated by Martin Konvička. Vyd. 2., v Portálu 1. Praha: Portál, 2007, 315 s. ISBN 9788073671358. info
Teaching methods
lecture, discussion, the student presents an analysis of a scientific article on the topic of evolutionary psychology
Assessment methods
final written exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2017/PS_BB024