Evolutionary Psychology - PSY 493   Fall 2007   Department of Psychology Michigan State University     Instructor Dr. Carlos David Navarrete Office: Psychology Research 247 (TTh 2:00-3:00PM) Email: cdn at msu . edu Ph: 517-432-8391 Web: www.cdnresearch.net   Teaching Assistant Michael Braun Office: PSY 302 (MW 11:30AM-12:30PM) Email: braunmi3 at msu . edu     Course Description This course provides an introduction to evolutionary psychology--an integrative approach to thinking about human nature and how it interacts with environments to produce patterns of cognition, emotion, behavior and culture. Key theories and principles in psychology and evolutionary biology are discussed. Topics covered include principles of natural selection, human evolutionary environments, family and kinship, altruism and cooperation, sex and jealousy, cultural transmission, fear, aggression and intergroup conflict.     Course Meeting Time and Location Tues. & Thurs. 12:40PM – 2:00PM 104 Giltner   Course Readings Buss, D.M. (2008). Evolutionary psychology: The new science of the mind, 3rd Ed. Boston: Pearson. [EP] Dawkins, R. (1989). The selfish gene. New York: Oxford University Press. [SG]   There will also be a few assigned readings of primary source material in the final weeks.   Recommended Reading Wright, R. (1994). The Moral Animal. New York: Pantheon. Pinker, S. (2003). The Blank Slate.   Grading & Exams Grading will be based primarily on 2 midterms and one final exam. Each midterm is worth 25% and the final is 40%. Attendance and participation will amount to 10% of your grade. Make-up exams will not be given unless arranged ahead of time in the case of documented emergencies or illnesses.   Summary of Requirements   Midterm #1     25% Midterm #2     25% Final                40% Participation  10%   Academic Integrity Every student is held responsible for knowing the academic integrity policy at MSU.  The policy can be found here.     Evolutionary Psychology (Tentative Reading Schedule)   Dates     Topic     Readings   Aug. 28, 30, Sept. 4 Introduction  EP: Chapter 1; SG: 1, 2 Sept. 6, 11 Psychological Foundations  EP: Chapter 2; SG: 3 Sept. 13, 18 The Hostile Forces of Nature  EP: Chapter 3; SG: 4 Sept. 20, 25 Mating Strategies I  EP: Chap. 4 & 5 Sept. 27 Mating Strategies II  EP: Chap. 6   Oct. 2 Midterm 1   Oct. 4, 9 Problems of Parenting  EP: Chapter 7; SG: 7, 8 Oct. 11 Problems of Kinship  EP: Chapter 8; SG: 6 Oct. 16-18 Cooperation & Morality  EP: Chapter 9; SG: 10, 12; Bonus reading  Guest Lecture Slides Oct. 25 Aggression and Violence  EP: Chapter 10; SG: 5 Oct. 30, Nov. 1 Intergroup and Intersexual Conflict  EP: Chapter 11; SG: 9   Nov. 6 Midterm   Nov. 8-13 Status and Dominance  EP: Chapter 12 Nov. 15  Prejudice and Discrimination   Reading1    Reading2    Slides Nov. 20  Terrorism, Memes and the Psychology of Groups  SG: Ch. 11  Reading    Slides Nov. 22 Thanksgiving – No Classes Nov. 27 Morality and Religion  Reading1  Reading2   Slides Nov. 29 The Origins of Modern Inequality - Guns, Germs and Steel  Video1 Video2 Video3 Nov. Dec. 4-6 Unified Psychology EP: Ch. 13; SG: 13   Slides   Dec. 10 Final   104 Giltner 12:45-2:45