Course Description
Exploration of different theoretical approaches to the evolutionary study of human behavior, from Darwin through the development of ethology, sociobiology, human behavioral ecology, dual inheritance theory, and behavioral economics. Examination of topics such as influence of genes versus culture on behavior, cooperation, subsistence decisions, mate choice, reproductive and parenting choices.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
This course will build graduate students' skills for crafting
publishable written argument, and increase their knowledge of
published arguments within the evolutionary anthropology
literature. Commensurate with these goals, each graduate
student will be assigned a major theme from the course around
which to (a) gather supplemental published research, including
theoretical contributions and case studies, (b) summarize this
research in an annotated bibliography, (c) present a brief oral
summary of this literature to the class on the day the theme is
addressed, thus providing the undergraduates with a better
sense of the breadth of the topic, and (d) write a term paper
exploring the topic or some aspect of it in greater depth.
Finally, graduate students will take different exams,
commensurate with their greater knowledge and ability to
express complex ideas in writing.
Athena Title
EVOL & HUM BEHAV
Undergraduate Pre or Corequisite
ANTH 1102 or ANTH 2120H or permission of department
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Students should be able to apply evolutionary theory to understand human social phenomena 2. Students should be knowledgeable about key findings and major debates within evolutionary studies of human behavior 3. Students should be capable of critically evaluating claims about evolution and human behavior that they encounter in the news media or other popular discourse 4. Students will have the opportunity to practice academic research and writing with guidance and feedback from the instructor 5. Students should be aware of how evolutionary theory has been misused by the scientific world to support racism, fascism, and eugenics programs 6. Students should have a broader perspective on human diversity and universality.
Topical Outline
Part 1: General themes and overview a. Primer of evolutionary theory b. Behavior in 19th century evolutionary thought c. the New Synthesis: behavior and the phenotype d. The early ethologists: study of instinct Part 2: Sociobiology a. genetics eye perspective b. Individual versus group selection c. Kin selection d. Reciprocal altruism e. Evolutionary game theory f. Parent-offspring conflict g. Human mate choice Interlude: Misuses of evolutionary theory: Racism and eugenics Part 3: Human behavioral ecology a. Hunter-gatherer foraging strategies b. Food sharing c. Life history evolution and age/sex division of labor d. Showing off and costly signaling e. Parental investment f. Reproductive decision-making Part 4. Cultural evolution and dual inheritance theory a. Biased transmission b. Memetics Part 5: Behavioral economics a. Heuristics and biases in perception and cognition b. Social learning c. Social preferences and concepts of fairness
Syllabus