PSYC3621: Evolution, Culture and Behaviour

• Modules to the value of 60 credits from Psychology Level 2

• 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 cultural and biological evolutionary principles to the understanding of human and nonhuman primate behaviour
• It will introduce biological evolution with a focus on natural and sexual selection and the different forms of evolutionary behavioural sciences.
• It will also examine cultural evolution including cumulative culture and social learning, and cross-cultural methods in Psychology and Anthropology.
• It will address a number of psychological and behavioural phenomena, which will vary from year to year but are likely to include mate choice, parental care, kin selection, same-sex competition, primate behavioural ecology, brain and language evolution, primate cognition and behaviour, comparative primate psychology.
• The module will also cover related conceptual and historical issues in psychology and related fields in biology and anthropology

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Detailed knowledge of evolutionary approaches to human behaviour and that of other primates, 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 and essay 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 enter text as appropriate for the module

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our FAQ webpages, Help page or our glossary of terms. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the FAQ, or a query about the on-line Undergraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.