Evolution and Genetics for Psychology

Description

Evolution and Genetics for Psychology lays out the conceptual toolkit one needs in order to think in evolutionary terms - and to apply this thinking to any subject. With the toolkit firmly in place, it goes on to show how these key concepts are applied to issues of human behaviour, from sex to social relationships, to learning.

• The first text to present the fundamental processes of evolution and genetics in a succinct, accessible form for those with no biology background.
• Lays out the conceptual toolkit one needs in order to think in evolutionary terms, including the necessary building blocks of genetics.
• An emphasis on humans and their close relatives makes it ideal for students of psychology and the behavioural sciences.
• The Online Resource Centre features additional resources for both lecturers and students, enhancing the book's educational value.

About the Author(s)

Daniel Nettle, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

Table of Contents

1. The Significance of Darwinism
1.1: What problems does the theory of evolution solve?
1.2:Evolution by natural selection in a nutshell
1.3:Incorporating genetics: The modern synthesis
1.4:Common objections and misunderstandings
1.5:Summary, Taking it Further, and Questions
2. Variation
2.1:The phenotype
2.2:The genotype
2.3:Genetic variation
2.4:From genotype to phenotype
2.5:Summary, Taking it Further, and Questions
3. Heredity
3.1:Inheritance does not work by blending
3.2:Mendelian genetics
3.3:Quantitative Genetics
3.4:Heritability and natural selection
3.5:Summary, Taking it Further, and Questions
4. Competition
4.1:Malthus: Checks on reproduction and competition to reproduce
4.2:Natural selection at the genotypic level
4.3:Group selection
4.4:Kin selection
4.5:Advanced topics: Evolutionary transitions, levels of selection, and intra-genomic conflict
4.6:Summary, Taking it Further, and Questions
5. Natural Selection
5.1:Modes of selection
5.2:Selection and variation
5.3:Selection and adaptation
5.4:Constraints on optimality
5.5:How to test adaptationist hypotheses
5.6:Getting natural selection clear
5.7:Summary, Taking it Further, and Questions
6. Sex
6.1:The diversity of reproduction in nature
6.2:Why have any sex at all?
6.3:The evolution of anisogamy
6.4:Sex differences
6.5:Pluralism in sexual strategies
6.6:Sexual selection and mate choice in humans
6.7:Summary, Taking it Further, and Questions
7. Life histories
7.1:When to die: The evolution of life span
7.2:When to breed: The evolution of reproductive strategies
7.3:Parental care
7.4:Grandparental care
7.5:Summary, Taking it Further, and Questions
8. Social life
8.1:Why live in groups?
8.2:Types of groups
8.3:Consequences of group living
8.4:Human groups in comparative perspective
8.5:Cooperation
8.6:Summary, Taking it Further, and Questions
9. Plasticity and learning
9.1:Conditions for the evolution of phenotypic plasticity
9.2:Developmental induction
9.3:Imprinting
9.4:Associative learning
9.5:Social learning
9.6:Learning and adaptation
9.7:Summary, Taking it Further, and Questions
10. Our place in nature
10.1:Reconstructing the tree of life
10.2:Humans as primates
10.3:What makes humans different?
10.4:Summary, Taking it Further, and Questions
11. Evolution and Contemporary Life
11.1:Human evolution is still going on
11.2:Evolution leaves a legacy
11.3:The place of evolutionary theory in the explanation of current behaviour
11.4:How should cross-cultural variation be explained?
11.5:How much of our behaviour is adaptive?
Glossary
References

Reviews

I think that the book is written in an astonishingly clear way that indicates a great deal of thought has gone into writing it. It further indicates that Nettle is entirely on top of his discipline as he has the facility to make complex and technical matters easy to digest. - Tom Dickins, UEL

Nettle uses this book to set the story straight on more than a handful of occasions...Relishing in the demolition of misplaced ideas, he also reveals a deeply held appreciation of some of the ingenious research findings presented to the reader. - Joseph Leach, Goldsmiths, University of London