10. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Evolution and Rationality

Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110)

This lecture introduces students to the study of psychology from an evolutionary perspective, the idea that like the body, natural selection has shaped the development of the human mind. Prominent arguments for and against the theory of natural selection and its relationship to human psychology are reviewed. Students will hear several examples of how studying mental phenomenon from an evolutionary perspective can help constrain theories in psychology as well as explain many prevalent human instincts that underlie many of our most basic behaviors and decisions.

00:00 - Chapter 1. The Modern Biological Account of the Origin of Psychological Phenomena
13:35 - Chapter 2. Avoiding Misconceptions When Applying Evolutionary Theory to Psychology
22:38 - Chapter 3. Claims Against the Evolutionary Psychology
26:42 - Chapter 4. Ways in Which Evolution Helps Describe the Mind
39:43 - Chapter 5. Heuristics: Framing Effects, Base Rates, Availability Bias and Confirmation Bias

Complete course materials are available at the Yale Online website: online.yale.edu

This course was recorded in Spring 2007.