Module: Comparative Evolutionary Psychology

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Comparative Evolutionary Psychology
Module Code	PSYC112 (ITS) / PSY1015 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Psychology
Module Co-ordinator	Johannes Karl
Module Teachers	Styliani Vlachou
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only

Description

To understand similarities and differences and the continuity of behaviour within and between species

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand, describe and explain the major theories, approaches and perspectives of comparative and evolutionary psychology to behaviour
2. Understand, describe and explain the approach of the new interdisciplinary approach of comparative evolutionary psychology to behaviour
3. Describe the principles of evolutionary theory
4. Understand and describe the evolution of central cognitive processes ins humans.
5. Describe how genes contribute to behaviour through evolution, and how early learning and social learning has influenced behaviour.
6. Understand and explain how reproductive and social behaviour has evolved in animals and humans.
7. Understand how culture has evolved and interacts with biological evolution.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Seminars	4	No Description
Independent Study	97	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Principles of Evolutionary Theory: Biological Evolution; Origin and Evolution of Animals; Evolution and Development

Social Evolution: Reproductive and Social Behaviour; Brain, Behaviour and Evolution of Homo Sapiens

Development of Behaviour: Genes and Behaviour; Early Learning and Behaviour; Early Social Learning and Behaviour

Major theories of culture and evolution.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Assignment	Presentation	30%	n/a
Loop Quiz	Weekly Knowledge Quiz	40%	n/a
Report(s)	Companion Piece to the presentation	30%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Mauricio R, Papini: 2008, omparative Psychology: Evolution and Development of Behavior, Psychology Press, Routledge, New York, USA, 978-184169460
Edward O. Wilson: 2005, From so simple a beginning: Darwin's four great books (Voyage of the Beagle; The Origin of Species; The decent of Man; The experience of emotion in Man and Animals), W.W. Norton & Co., New York, USA,
Richard Dawkins: 2006, The Selfish Gene, Open University Press, Berkshire, UK,

Other Resources

None