Course outline and reference lists
The following notes are an expanded
version of the course
description in your Department
Handbook. They give the topics I expect to cover in the course. The
number in brackets after each topic title indicates the number of lectures
I expect to devote to it.
For each topic, I suggest some reading (this is the bit which isn't
in your handbook). The readings may be of either of two types:
-
Readings marked (A) essentially cover the material presented in lectures,
though possibly from a slightly different standpoint.
-
Readings marked (B) extend the material covered by the lectures, by going
into more detail, or by giving a different theoretical perspective.
Where readings are drawn from the books listed in the course outline (in
your department handbooks), only the author's name is given. Otherwise,
author, date and title are given. Where several readings are suggested,
they are usually alternatives, and you should choose the book that suits
you best. Naturally, these are not the only possible chapters or papers
to read. You should dip into the various books available and read what
is relevant to your needs. Remember, too, that these readings are
only suggestions. There are many excellent books on all aspects of evolutionary
psychology, and you will find copies in the libraries and bookshops. Use
the readings that suit your interests and level of previous knowledge.
For a quick background to the whole field (e.g. for pre-exam revision),
try reading chapter 2 in M. C. Corballis and S. E. G. Lea, The descent
of mind, Oxford University Press: copies of this book will arrive in
the library during the year.
NOTE CAREFULLY. There is a new, and much improved, edition
of the textbook by Domjan & Burkhard recommended in your handbook.
The new edition has a publication date of 1997 and is authored by Domjan
alone. Chapter numbers in this handout refer to the new edition,
and may not be the same as in the old edition. Please use your
intelligence in choosing chapters to read if you have to use the older
edition. There is also a second edition of Sherman and Alcock's book
Exploring Animal Behaviour; it is better than the first edition, but almost
all the papers from that book recommended here are also in the first edition.
Lecture topics
Natural selection and human psychology (1).
What is the theory of natural selection? Fitness. Human evolution. Biological
determinism and cultural determinism. [Please note the entertaining word
processor error in your Handbook's version of this last phrase]
Reading:
-
(A) Lea, Chap. 1; Ridley, Chap. 2; Dawkins, Chaps. 1, 2
-
(B) Byrne, Chap 2; Richards (1987), Human evolution, chapters 1
& 2; Gould in Sherman & Alcock.
The study of instinct (2).
Fixed action patterns. Sign stimuli. Drives and drive conflicts. Ritualization
and emancipation. Instincts and motives. The modifiability of instincts.
Human instincts.
Reading:
-
(A) Gleitman (1994), Psychology (4th edn), Chap 10; Gould &
Gould, Chap 2; Lea, Chaps 2, 3; Ridley, Chap 7
-
(B) Hailman, Scientific American, December 1969 (reprinted in T.Eisner
& E. O. Wilson, Eds, Animal Behavior); M. Stamp Dawkins,
Unravelling
animal behaviour, Chaps 5, 6 of 1st edn or Chap 5 of 2nd edn.
Foraging and behavioural ecology (1).
Feeding and foraging. The optimality principle. Redshanks and flycatchers
as optimal foragers.
Reading:
-
(A) Ridley, Chap 6; Krebs & Davies, Chap. 3; McFarland, Chap. 24;
-
(B) Hill & Hurtado in Sherman & Alcock; Gould & Gould, Chap.
7.
Sociobiology (2).
The problem of the evolution of altruism. Selfish genes and kin altruists.
Optimality in a social context: the theory of games. Aggression and appeasement.
Reading:
-
(A) Lea, Chap. 4; Dawkins, Chaps 5, 6; Ridley, Chaps 9, 10; Richards (1987),
Human
evolution, chapter 5;
-
(B): Honeycutt in Sherman & Alcock; Heinrich & Marzluff in Sherman
& Alcock; S. Rose et al (1984), Not in our genes, Chap. 9.
Classical conditioning (2).
Pavlov's experiments. Conditioning and extinction. Partial reinforcement
and Rescorla's correlational principle. Drug tolerance as a conditioned
reaction. Pavlovian conditioning in humans.
Reading:
-
(A) Atkinson et al (1993), Introduction to psychology (11th edn),
Chap. 7; Gleitman (1994), Psychology (4th edn), Chap. 4; Gould &
Gould, Chap. 3; Domjan, Chaps 3, 4;
-
(B) G. C. L. Davey (1989), Ecological learning theory, Chap. 6.
Operant conditioning (2).
The Skinner box. The four simplest schedules of reinforcement. Concurrent
schedules. Human adult and child performance on standard schedules.
Reading:
-
(A) Domjan & Burkhard, Chaps 5, 6; G. C. L. Davey (1989), Ecological
learning theory, Chap. 3.
The evolution of learning (1).
The modifiability of instincts. Imprinting as an "open instinct". Other
specific learning abilities. Language learning. Foraging behaviour and
reinforcement schedules.
Reading:
-
(A) McFarland, Chap. 18; Tarpy, Chap. 6.
-
(B) Shettleworth (1993), Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal
Behavior Processes, 19, 5-14; Byrne, Chap 4.
Culture and human cognitive evolution (1).
Imitation. The intellectual abilities of apes. From insight learning to
problem solving. Animal cultures. The idea of cultural evolution.
Reading:
-
(A) Dawkins, Chap. 11; Domjan & Burkhard, Chap. 12; Gould & Gould,
Chaps. 4, 9, 10; West & King in Sherman & Alcock
-
(B) Byrne, Chaps 5-7; McFarland, Chaps 26-28; Domjan, Chap. 12.
Stephen Lea
University of Exeter
School of Psychology
Washington Singer Laboratories
Exeter EX4 4QG
United Kingdom
Tel +44 1392 264626
Fax +44 1392 264623
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Document revised 23rd November 1998