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Evolutionary Psychology, Cognitive Archaeology, and Psychological Prehistory Course Description: This Course Is PSY 325, Evoluti Evolutionary Psychology, Cognitive Archaeology, and Psychological Prehistory Course Description: This course is PSY 325, Evolutionary Psychology, as offered in the Spring of 2020 Text: Henley, T., Rossano, M., & Kardas, E. (2020). Handbook of Cognitive Archaeology: Psychology in Prehistory. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Note – I know this book is expensive, so there will be a copy placed on reserve in the library that you can use The Basics: Keep in mind that a syllabus sometimes shifts a little as a course unfolds. I say that by way of noting the importance of class attendance, as you will be held responsible for any change in plans announced in class. The other basic admonition every syllabus must include is that cheating (broadly defined) is not allowed. Or, as the university likes me to say: "All students enrolled at the University shall follow the tenets of common decency and acceptable behavior conducive to a positive learning environment (see Student's Guide Handbook, Policies and Procedures, Conduct).” And, note that “Students requesting accommodations for disabilities must go through the Academic Support Committee. For more information, please contact the Director of Disability Resources & Services, Gee Library, Room 132, (903) 886-5835.” Last: Only qualified law enforcement officers or those who are otherwise authorized to carry a concealed handgun in the State of Texas are permitted to do so. Pursuant to Penal Code (PC) 46.035 and A&M-Commerce Rule 34.06.02.R1, even license holders may not carry a concealed handgun in restricted locations. Readings: The readings are listed on the Schedule of Events as follows: key required; required; suggested; and optional. What that really means is explained below. Course Format: In general, I will lecture, but I am delighted to be interrupted early and often with your thoughtful questions. There are some days indicated on the syllabus where I have put “discuss” following the “key” required readings, and this translates into you making it clear you did the assigned reading. If you don’t plan to talk in class, you may just give me a short (1-page) summary of the chapter instead (by that day – not after). Assignments: There are no Tests. All students need to write two “glorified book reports.” I am not a word-counter, but these should be roughly “10 pages” in terms of depth/detail. The FIRST of these should draw on at least one of the required (not key required) and at least one of the suggested readings. Finding a good way to connect them should serve as the paper’s structure. The SECOND of the two MUST be from the list below. For this one, you will also make a 20 minute presentation around the end of the term. Readings to Pick From* Boyd, B. (2009). On the Origin of Stories. Brown, D. (1991). Human universals. Cauvin, J. (2000). The birth of the gods and the origins of agriculture. Clark, A. (2008). Supersizing the Mind. Dunbar, R. (2010) How Many Friends Does One Person Need? Gamble, C., Gowlett, J & Dunbar, R. (2014). Thinking Big: How the Evolution of Social Life Shaped the Human Mind. Henrich, J. (2016). The Secret of Our Success Hutchins, E. (1995). Cognition in the wild. Malafouris, L. (2013). How Things Shape the Mind. Mithen, S. (2003). After the ice: A global human history 20000-5000 BC. Mithen, S. (1996). The Prehistory of the Mind. Norenzayen, A. (2013). Big Gods. Renfrew, C. (2007). Prehistory. Renfrew, C & Zubrow, E. (1994). The Ancient Mind. *I will add more options as needed so that everyone does something unique Note – Most of these books are actually cheap, but they can also be obtained through the library Grades: Everybody starts with an A. Do what is asked each week and you’ll surely keep it. That said, consider each paper, your lecture, and the class discussions over the key readings to each be worth 25% of your grade. If you would like to do some “extra-credit” just to be safe, you may write (one or more) extra papers over a suggested or an optional reading. Avuncular Advice: Attend class – most of the material is from the lecture. Read what is required and as much of the suggested ones as you can. Read as far in advance of the due date as you can. The Instructor: Dr. Tracy B. Henley Office Hours: You are welcome to drop by and speak with me at any time that I am in my office – which should be most of every MWF. Beyond that, you can see me before/after class to schedule a meeting. Or, you can always reach me at [email protected] Schedule of Events: Do all the required readings by the date shown. 1/13/M Review of Syllabus I. Foundations 1/15/W The Big Picture What is Evolutionary Psychology, Cognitive Archaeology and Psychological Pre-History? Evolution and Religion Evolution and Culture Suggested Reading – The Foreword by Watkins and Chapter 6 by Narvaez 1/17/F History and Theory Darwin and Wallace Beyond Darwin: Other Key Figures 1/20/M NO CLASS – HOLIDAY 1/22/W History and Theory continued… Core Concepts Criticisms: Just So Stories and the overuse of animal and “modern” examples Key Required Reading – The Foreword by Stone and Chapter 1 by Kardas & Henley Discuss Required Reading 1/24/F Evolutionary Basics The Basics of Evolution and Genetics Suggested Reading – Chapter 2 by Konner 1/27/M Evolutionary Basics continued… Kinship and Kin Selection Altruism and Cooperation Reciprocity The Prisoner’s Dilemma Suggested Reading – Chapter 5 by Krebs 1/29/W Human Adaptation The Basics of Human Survival II. Human Evolution and Cognitive Archaeology 1/31/F Hominid Evolution Ages, Apes, and Hominids Out of Africa vs Multiregionalism 2/3/M Hominid Evolution continued… Hands, Brains, and Bi-Pedalism Optional Reading – Chapter 4 by Habecker & Flynn 2/5/W What makes us, us? When did we become Human? The notion of Modernity 2/7/F What makes us, us, continued… A first look at the Neolithic Revolution III. Evolutionary Psychology Basics: Human Nature 2/10/M Theory of Mind Theory of Mind and Machiavellian Intelligence 2/12/W The Expression of Emotion The Expression of Emotion Required Reading – Chapter 26 by Humphrey 2/14/F Personality and Psychopathology Personality and Pathology from an Evolutionary Perspective Suggested Reading – Chapter 24 by Whitley and Chapter 25 by Hagen & Tushingham 2/17/M Sociality Social Organization and Cooperation basics Key Required Reading – Chapter 20 by Sterelny Discuss Required Reading 2/19/W Sociality continued… Behaving Badly… 2/21/F Aggression Aggression, Warfare, and Homicide 2/24/M Set Your Paper/Presentation Topics and Lecture Times 2/26/W Sexuality The Red Queen… Primate Sexuality and Society Required Reading – Chapter 21 by Taylor 2/28/F Sexuality continued… Human Mate Selection and Sexuality The Male Perspective 3/2/M Sexuality continued… Human Mate Selection and Sexuality Continued… The Female Perspective 3/4/W Gender Gender and Society An aside on Amazons Key Required Reading – Chapter 19 by Power Discuss Required Reading 3/6/F Development Lifespan Development from an Evolutionary Perspective Grandparents and why we live to get old… Families from an Evolutionary Perspective Optional Reading – Chapter 3 by Oxford & Geary SPRING BREAK IV. The Essential Element: Human Social Organization 3/16/M Social Behavior Social Groups: Tajfel and Turner The Evolutionary Psychology of Friendship Optional Reading – Chapter 7 by Burghardt 3/18/W Social Behavior continued… Social Organization Ritual Key Required Reading – Chapter 18 by Rossano Discuss Required Reading 3/20/F Hunter-Gatherer Social Behavior About Hunters and Gatherers 3/23/M Beyond Hunter-Gatherer Social Behavior Dominance How Leaders Emerge Key Required Reading – Chapter 23 by Hayden Discuss Required Reading 3/25/W When, Why, and How our Social Behavior Evolved Göbekli Tepe and Social Organization Norenzayan and Big Gods V. The Evolution of Cognition 3/27/F Learning and Cognition Rationalist Epistemology Gibson and Beyond: What we are born knowing Associative Learning Required Reading – Chapter 8 by Corballis and Chapter 9 by Shipton and Chapter 10 by Kraus & Sanz 3/30/M The Nature of Human Cognition Embodied and Extended Cognition The Evolution of Thinking Required Reading – Chapter 12 by Gabora & Smith and Chapter 13 by Hodgson and Chapter 14 by Wynn & Coolidge 4/1/W Language The Evolution of Language Key Required Reading – Chapter 15 by Donald Discuss Required Reading 4/3/F NO CLASS - SWPA 4/6/M Language continued… Language and Society… The work of Merlin Donald, Robin Dunbar, and Colin Renfrew Required Reading – Chapter 16 by Nielsen 4/8/W Symbolic Representations Art and Symbolic Representation Burials Required Reading – Chapter 27 by Pettitt 4/10/F Moral Reasoning and The Self The Evolution of Morality The Self Required Reading – Chapter 22 by Twomey VI. Prehistory: Göbekli Tepe as a Case Study 4/13/M The Neolithic Revolution The Neolithic Revolution according to Childe Cauvin: The Neolithic Revolution Reconsidered 4/15/W Göbekli Tepe Göbekli Tepe in some detail Key Required Reading – Chapter 17 by Dietrich, Notroff, Walter & Dietrich Discuss Required Reading 4/17/F The Origins of Religion The Evolution of Religion From Shamen to Ghosts Back to Göbekli Tepe Gods 4/20/M Writing as Symbolic Representation The Evolution of Writing VII. Later Cognitive Archaeology and Prehistory 4/22/W Human Universals Human Universals Why we have them… Suggested Reading – Chapter 29 by Rossano, Henley & Kardas 4/24/F Human Universals continued… Human Universals What they seem to be… 4/27/M A game of Civilization? Later Prehistory and Psychology: From Göbekli Tepe to Thales VIII. Your Turn to Present 4/29/W Student Lectures 5/1/F Student Lectures Final Student Lectures .
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