Evolutionary Psychology A Beginner's Guide

by Dunbar, Robin; Barrett, Louise; Lycett, John

• ISBN13: 9781851683567
• ISBN10: 1851683569
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-03-01
• Publisher: Oneworld Publications

Summary

This accessible guide provides an introduction to evolutionary psychology -he fascinating and often controversial new discipline that studies humanehavior, evolution and the mind. Starting with its origins in the work ofharles Darwin, the book covers all the key areas of evolutionary psychology,ncluding the role played by genetics in our sexual behavior, parentalecision-making, and how babies learn about and adapt to the world. In clearnd straight-forward language, the book also breaks new ground in examininghe debates and ethical questions raised right now by evolutionary psychologynd contemplating their implications for the future of humankind.

Author Biography

John Lycett is Lecturer at Liverpool University.

Table of Contents

why do we need evolution?	1	(11)
Darwin and the mind	1	(2)
Genetic determinism: the evolutionary red herring	3	(2)
Darwin, genes and behaviour	5	(3)
Disentangling the web	8	(4)
what evolution did for us	12	(18)
Darwin and natural selection	12	(2)
The `Selfish Gene' as shorthand	14	(2)
Altruism and the gene's eye view	16	(2)
Is the gene's eye view too narrow?	18	(3)
Niche Construction Theory	21	(3)
The human revolution	24	(3)
Origins of the human mind	27	(3)
genes, development and instinct	30	(15)
Separating the inseparable	31	(1)
A cook's tour of interactionism	32	(2)
Development and imprinting	34	(3)
The little bundle of instincts	37	(1)
Motherese and social smiles	38	(2)
The paradox of language	40	(5)
how to make us human	45	(15)
How babies learn about the world	45	(3)
The eyes have it	48	(3)
The cultural ratchet	51	(2)
Mother knows best	53	(2)
Let's pretend	55	(1)
Reading minds	56	(4)
choosing mates	60	(16)
The constraints of ancient biology	61	(1)
The rose-tinted world	62	(2)
Opening the bidding	64	(1)
Real life's the best of a bad job	65	(2)
Honest cues	67	(5)
Cryptic clues	72	(4)
the dilemmas of parenthood	76	(14)
The costs of reproduction	76	(2)
A Darwinian paradox	78	(4)
When boys and girls are not equal	82	(4)
Born to rebel	86	(4)
the social whirl	90	(15)
Primate societies	90	(2)
The social brain	92	(3)
A very social mind	95	(2)
Circles of intimacy	97	(3)
Trust and reciprocity	100	(2)
Deacon's Paradox and the free-rider	102	(3)
Language and culture	105	(16)
The uniqueness of human being	105	(4)
How and why language evolved	109	(2)
When did language evolve?	111	(2)
Darwin, genes and culture	113	(4)
Intentionality, language and culture	117	(4)
the uniqueness of human being	121	(13)
Processes of cultural evolution	122	(2)
Conformity bias and cultural change	124	(2)
From models to the real world	126	(1)
Cultural evolution with functional consequences	127	(1)
Cultural evolution under neutral selection	128	(2)
When memes go bad ...	130	(4)
virtual worlds	134	(15)
The nature of religion	134	(3)
Religion, ritual and the brain	137	(2)
The story-teller's art	139	(2)
The role of shared worldviews	141	(3)
Flights of fancy	144	(3)
When did religion evolve?	147	(2)
the science of morality	149	(17)
The naturalistic fallacy	150	(2)
Free-riders and the social contract	152	(1)
Evolution's mental firewalls	152	(4)
Evolving an ethical sense	156	(1)
Strong reciprocity and the prosocial `instinct'	157	(4)
Social embeddedness	161	(5)
Glossary	166	(4)
Bibliography	170	(9)
Index	179