Evolution and Human Behavior: Darwinian Perspectives on Human Nature, 2nd edition (A Bradford Book) - Softcover

Cartwright, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0262533049 ISBN 13: 9780262533041

Publisher: The MIT Press, 2008

Synopsis

Evolutionary psychology occupies an important place in the drive to understand and explain human behavior. Darwinian ideas provide powerful tools to illuminate how fundamental aspects of the way humans think, feel, and interact derive from reproductive interests and an ultimate need for survival. In this updated and expanded edition of Evolution and Human Behavior, John Cartwright considers the emergence of Homo sapiens as a species and looks at contemporary issues, such as familial relationships and conflict and cooperation, in light of key theoretical principles. The book covers basic concepts including natural and sexual selection, life history theory, and the fundamentals of genetics. New material will be found in chapters on emotion, culture, incest avoidance, ethics, and cognition and reasoning. Two new chapters are devoted to the evolutionary analysis of mental disorders. Students of psychology, human biology, and physical and cultural anthropology will find Evolution and Human Behavior a comprehensive textbook of great value.

About this title

About the Author:

Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris is Professor and Chair of UCLA's Department of Urban Planning. She is the coauthor of Urban Design Downtown: Poetics and Politics of Form.

Review:

I warmly welcome this new edition. The author has expanded and updated the content and scope and I am delighted to see that he has maintained the critical approach so important in the first edition. The expansion of the old material and inclusion of newer material means that this text will form a good 'fit' to any of the numerous evolutionary courses now on offer, whether as undergraduate options, or for more advanced master's programs.

(Nick Neave, Reader, Division of Psychology, Northumbria University)

About this edition

• Publisher: The MIT Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0262533049
• ISBN 13: 9780262533041
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 418