Evolutionary Approaches in the Behavioral Sciences: Toward a Better Understanding of Human Nature

Peterson, Steven A. (Editor)/ Somit, Albert (Editor)

ISBN 10: 0762307692 / ISBN 13: 9780762307692

Published by Emerald Group Pub Ltd, 2001

About this Item

1st edition. 298 pages. 9.50x6.75x1.25 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # x-0762307692

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Evolutionary Approaches in the Behavioral Sciences: Toward a Better Understanding of Human Nature
• Publisher: Emerald Group Pub Ltd
• Publication Date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0762307692
• ISBN 13: 9780762307692
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.28 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

"Evolutionary Approaches in the Behavioral Sciences" examines perhaps the single most important post-World War II development in the Behavioral Sciences - the emergence of a group of practitioners who advocate 'a more biologically oriented' approach to their discipline's subject matter. This contention directly challenges the basic tenets underlying the long-dominant standard social science model. Advocates of this model believe that human behavior is not meaningfully influenced by our evolutionary background, but is instead learned. Consequently, the possibility that our behavior is genetically influenced is often ignored.The advocates of a 'more biologically oriented' approach are attempting, in effect, an intellectual revolution. Part I of this ground breaking volume examines, discipline by discipline, the history of the evolutionary thrust, leading figures and key literature, the degree of acceptance (or rejection) within each discipline, and the likely future prospects. Part II discusses the biobehavioral approach on a geographic basis, with experts assessing the status of evolutionary behavioral science across a number of countries and regions. The contributing authors are social scientists who have personally played an important role in the developments that they discuss.