This is a concise and student-friendly survey of the burgeoning field of evolutionary psychology (EP) and the controversies that surround it. Evolutionary psychology is an approach to studying human behavior that is rooted in modern evolutionary theory. Firmly grounded in the theoretical and research literature of EP, the book addresses the core theories, approaches, applications, and current findings that comprise this discipline. It is unique in its interdisciplinary focus, which encompasses EP's impact on both psychological and non-psychological disciplines. Written by an eminent evolutionary psychologist who is President of the Northeastern Evolutionary Psychology Society, the text examines psychological processes that lead to human survival and those that may lead to reproductive benefits-sometimes even at a cost to survival. It cites a rich body of literature that provides insights into the role of sexual selection in shaping the human mind. The text presents current research on such important domains of EP as childhood, courtship, intrasexual competition, sex, pair-bonding, parenting, familial relations, non-familial relations, aggression, and altruism. Considering the potential of EP to mitigate some of our greatest social problems, the text examines the ways in which EP can be applied to society and religion. It also offers a thoughtful, balanced approach to such controversies in EP as the issues of genetic determinism, racism, and sexism. Key Features: • Provides a broad survey one of the most recent, widely researched, and controversial fields to emerge in psychology over the past 20 years
• Written by an eminent evolutionary psychologist who is President of the Northeastern Evolutionary Psychology Society
• Presents EP concepts in an accessible, student-friendly way
• Offers a unique interdisciplinary focus that addresses the impact of EP on both psychological and non-psychological disciplines
• Emphasizes controversies within the field of evolutionary psychology and includes critiques of EP from people outside this discipline About the Author: Glenn Geher, PhD, is Professor and Chair of Psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz. He is also Director of the University's interdisciplinary Evolutionary Studies program, which was recently, along with the sister program at Binghamton University, awarded a large grant from the National Science Foundation. Additionally, Dr. Geher is President of the Northeastern Evolutionary Psychology Society, the world's second largest society dedicated to the study of human behavior from an evolutionary perspective. He has published 30 scholarly books, book chapters, and articles on evolutionary psychology, including Mating Intelligence, co-edited with Geoffrey Miller. Dr. Geher also writes a popular blog for the international Evolutionary Studies Consortium, "Building Darwin's Bridges". He was awarded the SUNY New Paltz Alumni Association's Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award in 2007 as well as the SUNY Chancellor's Excellence in Teaching Award in 2008. |
