PSYK3500 Evolution and Behavior Course description

The course provides an introduction to how behavior is shaped and maintained through selection processes at the phylogenetic and ontogenetic levels. It addresses key issues from disciplines such as behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, evolutionary psychology, behavioral genetics, and ethology, all of which study behavior and its origins, where the differences in their approaches are reflected in their emphasis on evolution, psychology, genetics, and ecology.

Evolutionary biology focuses on the development of behavior through natural selection, while evolutionary psychology seeks to explain the origins of behavior via mental mechanisms shaped by evolution. Behavioral ecology analyzes the interaction between animals/humans and their environment through social relations, and behavioral genetics studies heredity and the role of genes in behavior. Ethology incorporates aspects from the aforementioned disciplines and concerns the study of animals’ natural behavior in their environment.

In addition to providing an introduction to central topics within these disciplines, the course Evolution and Behavior will integrate them with behavior-analytic theory by highlighting selection as a common explanatory process. The teaching will make visible analogous principles for phylogenetic and ontogenetic selection involving genes, the nervous system, behavior, and cultural practices.

Admission to the programme.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student can

• discuss similarities and differences between selection in evolutionary biology and behaviour analysis
• explain interactions between selection principles at the different levels
• describe basic principles and theories in modern evolution biology
• describe key topics in behavioural ecology
• describe heredity and key topics in modern genetics
• describe the significance of natural selection to the nervous system’s structure and function
• describe basic research areas in evolutionary psychology

Skills

The student can

• use principles of cultural selection in relation to changes in organisations and groups
• illustrate how specific behaviour can be explained from an evolutionary perspective
• reflect on topics and theories in evolution and behaviour

General competence

The student

• has insight into the biological basis of behaviour in animals, including humans
• can describe selection as an explanatory model both orally and in writing
• is familiar with new ideas and innovation processes in behaviour analysis as a holistic discipline based on selection sciences

Work and teaching methods used in the course are lectures, self-study and seminars where the students present academic texts.

To be eligible for the exam, the following must be approved:

• Full-day attendance at one seminar, including participation in one’s own group presentation.

Supervised individual written examination, 3 hours.

None

Grade scale A-F

All answers are assessed by one examiner.

An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. When selecting answers for external evaluation, a minimum of 10 percent of the answers shall be included, with no fewer than 5 answers. The external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.