Evolutionary Psychology

How Our Biology Affects What We Think and Do

Valerie G. Starratt (Autor)

Buch | Hardcover

304 Seiten

2016
Greenwood Press (Verlag)
978-1-61069-681-4 (ISBN)

Artikel merken

This book considers the complexities of human nature from a biological, psychological, and evolutionary standpoint and demonstrates how common modern behaviors can be traced back to early man.
From common phobias to our interactions with the opposite sex, the traits and behaviors that helped us to survive and thrive tens of thousands of years ago continue to have an impact on our thought processes, tendencies, and actions today. This fascinating reference examines the history, major themes and findings, and future direction of evolutionary psychology, a theory defined by a human being's ability to adapt and change in confluence with its environment. The work highlights contemporary debates and enduring questions in the field.

Filled with fascinating insights into the mind/body connection, the book addresses the evolutionary traits that can answer questions such as "Why do people crave cheeseburgers, chips, and chocolate?", "How do men and women think about problems differently?", and "Why do people cheat?" Each chapter has thematic headings, and topics include survival, mating, parenting, culture, and religion, among others. A list of references and suggested readings after each chapter points readers toward additional sources of information.

Valerie G. Starratt, PhD, is associate professor of psychology at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Introduction,
Acknowledgments,
Chapter 1: Basic Things to Know,
The Real World,
Levels of Analysis,
Adaptive Problems,
Evolution by Natural (and Sexual) Selection,
Natural Selection,
Sexual Selection,
Basic Tenets of Evolution,
Variation,
Genetic Heritability,
Competition,
Products of Evolution,
Adaptations,
By-Products,
Noise,
Common Misunderstandings and Critiques,
Genetic Determinism,
Just-So Stories,
Falsifiability,
Extreme Adaptationism,
The False Dichotomy of Nature versus Nurture,
The False Equivalency of Is = Should Be,
References and Further Readings,
Chapter 2: Survival,
The Real World,
Landscape Preferences,
Food,
Cooking,
Caloric Availability,
Hazardous Foods,
Conspecifics,
Behavioral Immune System,
Social Exchange,
Fear,
Across the Lifespan,
Prepared Learning,
Attention and Perception,
Biological Preparedness,
References and Further Readings,
Chapter 3: Mating,
The Real World,
Minimal Parental Investment,
Mate Value,
Assortative Mating,
Indicators of Mate Value,
Mating Strategies,
Long Term,
Short Term,
Sexual Conflict,
Life History,
Mate Attraction,
Enhancing Perceived Value,
Olfaction,
Competition and Cooperation,
Mate Retention,
Benefit Provisioning,
Cost Inflicting,
Discriminant Use,
Mating Effort,
References and Further Readings,
Chapter 4: Fitness and Kinship,
The Real World,
Genetics and Heredity,
The Building Blocks of Life,
Coefficient of Relationship,
Inclusive Fitness,
Kin Selection,
Kin Recognition,
Propinquity,
Matching,
Recognition Alleles,
Familiarity,
Kin Conflict,
ParentOffspring Conflict,
Siblings,
Selfish Gene,
References and Further Readings,
Chapter 5: Emotions,
The Real World,
Basic Emotions,
Specified Physiology,
Universality,
Reliability,
Immediacy and Automaticity,
Evolved Function,
Coordination of Evolved Mechanisms and Behavior,
Decision Making,
Recognition,
Faking,
Individual Differences,
References and Further Readings,
Chapter 6: Cognition, Consciousness, and Development,
The Real World,
Cognition,
Executive Functioning,
Neuroanatomy,
Consciousness,
Neuroanatomy,
Function,
Process,
Big Brains,
Altriciality,
Ontogenetic Adaptations,
Some Proposed Ontogenetic Adaptations,
Play,
Immaturity,
Epigenetic Inheritance,
Species-Typical versus Atypical Experience,
Typical,
Atypical,
Recapitulation Theory,
References and Further Readings,
Chapter 7: Society, Language, and Culture,
The Real World,
Self-Awareness,
Theory of Mind,
In-Groups and Out-Groups,
Social Hierarchy,
Leadership,
Leader States and Traits,
Leadership Strategies,
Group Cooperation,
Cheater Detection,
Logic and Reason,
Cues,
Language,
Memetics,
Good Memes,
Modern Memes,
References and Further Readings,
Chapter 8: Supernatural Agency: a.k.a. of Ghosts and Gods,
The Real World,
Ghosts,
Speaking Well of the Dead,
Moral Guardians,
Gods,
Religious Universals,
Religion as an Adaptation,
An Afterlife,
Other Benefits,
Promoting Beliefs,
Making Ghosts,
References and Further Readings,
Chapter 9: Practical Applications,
The Real World,
Evolutionary Clinical Psychology,
Education,
Folk Knowledge,
Secondary Abilities,
School and Modern Learning,
Individual Differences,
The Law and Social Policy,
The Environment and Sustainability,
Marketing,
Neuromarketing,
Personal Space and Communication,
Viral Marketing,
Darwinian Medicine,
Personal Health,
Public Health,
References and Further Readings,
Chapter 10: Other Interesting Things,
The Real World,
Politics,
Understanding Numbers,
Ancestral DNA Today,
Neanderthal Adaptations,
Denisovan Adaptations,
Free Will,
Domestication,
Domestication Phenotype,
Behavior,
Physiology,
Menopause,
Laughing,
Spontaneous Laughter,
Laughter in Conversation,
Contagious Laughter,
References and Further Readings,
Glossary,
Index,

Erscheint lt. Verlag	9.5.2016
Zusatzinfo	17 bw illus
Sprache	englisch
Maße	178 x 254 mm
Gewicht	822 g
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Allgemeine Psychologie
Themenwelt	Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Evolution
ISBN-10	1-61069-681-6 / 1610696816
ISBN-13	978-1-61069-681-4 / 9781610696814
Zustand	Neuware