PSKB_79 Introduction to Evolutionary Psychology

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2014
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 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
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
PSA_0SZ Comprehensive Examination
It is necessary to take part in lectures and seminars, to present analyzed published research in area of evolutionary psychology, to pass successful final written examination.
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
Successful graduate acquires basic frames of evolutionary psychology with focus on current trends in basic cognitive processes and social neuroscience.
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
  • Baron-Cohen, S. (2009). Duševná slepota – nevidieť do mysle. Bratislava: Európa, 152 s.
  • Barret, L., Dunbar, RIM., Lycett, J. (2007) Evoluční psychologie človeka. Praha: Portál, 512 s.
  • Buss, D. M. (1995). Evolutionary psychology: A new paradigm for psychological science. Psychological Inquiry, 6, 1-30.
  • Buss, D.M. et al. (1998). Adaptations, Exaptations, and Spandrels. American Psychologist, 53: 533–548
  • Dunbar, RIM. (2009). Příbeh rodu Homo. Praha: Academia, 224 s.
  • Evans, D., Zarate, O. (2002) Evoluční psychologie. Praha: Portál, 176 s.
  • Ramachandran, V.S. (2013) Mozek a jeho tajemství. Praha: Dybbuk, 416 s.
  • Ramachandran, V.S., Oberman, L.M. (2006) Broken Mirrors - Theory of Autism. Scientific American.
  • Ridley, M. (2007) Červená královna. Praha: Portál, 320 s.
  • Wright, R. (2011) Morální zvíře. Praha: NLN.
  • Vybraná studie z oblasti evoluční psychologie publikovaná v odborném časopisu.
Teaching methods
Teaching methods: lectures and seminars, where student presents theoretical background and the results of study on a topic from evolutionary psychology that was published in scientific journal.
Assessment methods
Completion requirements: 1. active participation in lessons, 2. presentation of the results of research study in published in scientific journal, selected by student. 3. final written examination on the topics of EP.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: in blocks.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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