DCU Home | Our Courses | Loop | Registry | Library | Search DCU

Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2021 - 2022

Module Title
Module Code
School

Online Module Resources

NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
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 how the vertebrae central nervous system has evolved and how this evolution has affected behaviour
5. Understand and describe the evolution of learning and cognition in animals and humans
6. Describe how genes contribute to behaviour through evolution, and how early learning and social learning has influenced behaviour
7. Understand and explain how reproductive and social behaviour has evolved in animals and humans



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture24No Description
Seminars6No Description
Independent Study95No 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

Behavioural Neurology: Simple Nervous Systems and Behaviour; Evolution of the Vertebrate Brain and Behaviour

Learning and Cognition: General Processes in Associative Learning; Comparative Analysis of Associative Learning; Animal

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

Social Evolution: Reproductive and Social Behaviour; Brain, Behaviour and Evolution of Primates

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable
Indicative Reading List

  • Mauricio R, Papini: 2008, omparative Psychology: Evolution and Development of Behavior, Psychology Press, Routledge, New York, USA, 978-184169460
  • V. Swami (Ed).: 2011, Evolutionary Psychology: a critical introduction, John Wiley and Sons, West Sussex, UK, 978-140519122
  • Mary C. Olmstead and Valerie A. Kuhlmeier: 2015, Comparative Cognition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 978-110764831
  • Daniel C. Marston and Terry L. Maple: 2016, Comparative Psychology for Clinical Psychologists and Therapists: What Animal Behavior Can Tell Us about Human Psychology, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London, UK, 978-184905743
  • 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
Programme or List of Programmes
Archives: