2016/17 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PSYC3516 Evolutionary Psychology

15 creditsClass Size: 70

Module manager: Dr Colin Hendrie
Email: c.a.hendrie@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

Pre-requisite qualifications

Successful completion of Year 2 of:
BSc Psychology or MPsyc, BSc Advanced Psychology (and its International and Industrial variants)

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

This module aims to provide in depth coverage of empirical, conceptual and theoretical issues relating to 'Evolutionary Psychology'. The module will be taught by an expert in the subject.
Students will continue to develop their knowledge in this area of the discipline with particular emphasis on relevant research.

Learning outcomes
The aim of this module is to immerse students in the exciting new discipline of evolutionary psychology. It looks at the history, concepts, methods and potential pitfalls of evolutionary psychology.

On successful completion, students should be able to demonstrate in depth critical understanding of:
- human origins;
- the foundations, concepts, methods and potential pitfalls of evolutionary psychology;
- recent empirical research on the adaptive problems of survival, mating, parenting, kinship and group-living;
- the broader implications of an evolutionary perspective for the traditional branches of the parent discipline and for psychiatry.

Syllabus

Topics to be covered:
1. Evolutionary thinking post Darwin and Wallace
2. The last common ancestor
3. Environmental hypotheses of hominin evolution
4. Impact of bipedalism on human behaviour
5. Sperm competition
6. Physical attractiveness
7. Human sexual behaviour
8. Parental investment
9. Developmental considerations
10. Whither Evolutionary Psychology?
11. Course overview and revision

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.50	16.50
Practical	1	3.00	3.00
Independent online learning hours			22.00
Private study hours			108.50
Total Contact hours			19.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Independent learning will include viewing on line educational material referred to in the lectures and/or linked on the slides (22hrs).
Private study will involve:
- reading in detail the material summarised in the lectures and following this up using the appropriate literature databases (6hrs x 11 lectures = 66hrs)
- preparation for end of semester exam: 42.5 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress will be monitored via a practical exercise.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Practical	Practical exercise	0.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		0.00

5 marks penalty will be applied the student’s final mark for this module if they do not complete the practical exercise.

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 06/04/2016

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