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Psychology and Evolution
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Psychology and Evolution
The Origins of Mind


Other Titles in:
Evolutionary Psychology

March 2003 | 432 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Introducing students to the emerging field of evolutionary psychology this book takes an approach that closely ties psychology to biology. The goal is to apply concepts of evolutionary theory to basic psychological functions to derive new insights into the roots of human behaviour and how that behaviour may be viewed as adaptations to important challenges of life.

The book is organized around major life challenges and psychological functions (courtship and reproduction, child rearing, family and social interaction, language development, perception and memory) and the evolved mechanisms that have allowed humans to adapt.

Pedagogical features include:

- chapter-opening motivational quotes and outlines

- illustrations

- key terms highlighted within the text and defined both in context and in a glossary at the end of the book

- end-of-chapter discussion questions along with annotated suggestions for further reading.

 
Preface
 
1. THE EVOLUTION REVOLUTION
Why Evolution? Social-Science Views of Humans. Nature versus Nurture? The Place of Evolutionary Psychology. History of Evolution in the Behavioral Sciences. Uses and Misuses of Evolution. How Evolution Works. Genetic Mechanisms of Evolution

 
 
2. THE PAST: 95% OF HUMAN HISTORY
Phylogenetic Origins. Human Prehistory.

 
 
3. COURTSHIP AND REPRODUCTIVE ADAPTATIONS
Sexual Reproduction. Reproductive Adaptations. Mate Selection.

 
 
4. CHILDREN AND CHILD-REARING
Pregnancy and Childbirth. Infancy and Early Childhood. Education. Relations with Caretakers.

 
 
5. FAMILY AND SOCIETY
Family Structure. Cooperation. Social Organization.

 
 
6. ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC LIFE
Large-scale Cooperation. Status and Social Dominance. Persistent Irrationalities of Human Action.

 
 
7. LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION
The Evolution of Language. The Structure of Language. Language Development in Children. The Anatomy Of Language. Functions of Language

 
 
8. PERCEPTION, MEMORY, AND CONSCIOUSNESS
Visual Perception. Memory. Consciousness and Planning.

 
 
9. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHIATRY
Four Classes of Mental Illness. Exaggerations of Normal Behaviors. Balances of Costs and Benefits. Illnesses That Confer Only Costs. Drug Addictions. Drugs and Mental Illness. Conclusion - The Diverse Origins of Mental Illnesses

 
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Author Index
 
Subject Index

"Bridgeman’s Psychology and Evolution is a superb textbook in evolutionary psychology…I see it as a landmark in the emergence of evolutionary psychology as no longer a controversial minority current but as a central aspect of the mainstream. The book reflects the state of the art in current work in evolutionary psychology…the reader is brought up-to-date about evolutionary theory, modern genetics, human prehistory, and relevant issues in modern linguistics."

M. Brewster Smith
University of California, Santa Cruz and Past President, American Psychological Association

"This is an important book. Readers partial to evolutionary psychology, as well as those who remain skeptical, will benefit from a careful reading of this reader-friendly book…The author endorses the core assumptions of evolutionary psychology…but, refreshingly, he includes, often with a new slant, relevant material usually overlooked by both believers and skeptics."

Andrew Neher
Cabrillo College

For instructors

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ISBN: 9780761924791
£109.00