Week 1 — Foundations of evolutionary psychology

Lectures in this week

• 1.1 What evolutionary psychology is and why it exists

  The mind as a product of natural selection.

• 1.2 Natural selection and adaptation

  How selection builds functional design without a designer.

• 1.3 Genes, inheritance, and replication

  The gene's-eye view: replicators and vehicles.

• 1.4 Sexual selection

  Selection for traits that win mates, not just survival.

• 1.5 Inclusive fitness and kin selection

  Hamilton's rule and why we help relatives.

• 1.6 The adapted mind and modularity

  Many specialized programs, not one general computer.

• 1.7 Levels of explanation and common misunderstandings

  Avoiding the naturalistic fallacy and genetic determinism.