PSYC3277: HUMAN EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY

• Modules to the value of 40 credits from C800 Psychology Level 2; OR 100 credits from C817 Psychology (Applied) Level 2; OR ANTH1091 Human Evolution and Diversity plus modules to the value of 40 credits from B601 OR B602 Anthropology; OR BIOL2511 Behaviour

• None

• None

• To present evolutionary theory as it is applied to human behaviour and to demonstrate how the theory and attendant research can contribute to the scientific understanding of behaviour

• This module examines the application of evolutionary principles to the understanding of human behaviour
• It begins with an introduction to natural and sexual selection before critically addressing a number of topic areas
• These can vary from year to year but are likely to include mate choice, parental care, kin selection, same-sex competition, cognitive evolution, memetics and gene-culture co-evolution
• The module will also cover related conceptual and historical issues in psychology

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Detailed knowledge of evolutionary approaches to human behaviour, including current theory and evidence

Subject-specific Skills:

• Ability to review critically and consolidate understanding of a coherent body of psychological knowledge and apply it appropriately

Key Skills:

• Good written communication skills
• Good IT skills in word processing, data manipulation and data presentation
• Ability to work independently in scholarship and research within broad guidelines

• Students' acquisition of detailed knowledge will be facilitated by lectures, some small group work, audio-visual materials, discussions and detailed reading lists
• These modes of teaching provide students with detailed knowledge of the key theories and the skills needed to evaluate different theoretical positions in light of current evidence
• The summative exam will assess students' detailed subject knowledge
• The use of group discussions / small group work will ensure that students are exposed to a range of different theoretical positions, and encouraged to understand their inter-relations
• Lectures, discussions and small group work will also give students the opportunity to interpret and evaluate the significance of empirical work
• The summative exam assesses students' acquired knowledge of theoretical principles and empirical studies and their ability to organise and synthesise them coherently and critically in written form in response to a set question
• The use of a summative written examination will ensure that students' written communication skills are assessed

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