Evolutionary psychology is a theoretical approach to psychology that attempts to explain useful mental and psychological traits—such as memory, perception, or language—as adaptations, i.e., as the functional products of natural selection.
The purpose of this approach is to bring the functional way of thinking about biological mechanisms such as the immune system into the field of psychology, and to approach psychological mechanisms in a similar way.
In short, evolutionary psychology is focused on how evolution has shaped the mind and behaviour.
The Course Routes and Course Modules available for the study of Evolutionary Psychology at AUOL are shown here:
| Qualification | Route |
|---|---|
| BA | BY DIRECTED COURSEWORK STUDY |
| MA | BY DIRECTED COURSEWORK STUDY |
| PhD | BY RESEARCH & DISSERTATION |
| Module Code | Module Title |
|---|---|
| PSY131 | HUMAN MALE & FEMALE MATING STRATEGIES |
| PSY132 | SEXUAL ATTRACTION |
| PSY134 | HUMAN SEXUAL SELECTION |
| PSY133 | HUMAN KIN SELECTION |
| PSY135 | ALTRUISM |
| PSY136 | PARENTING & ADOPTION |
| PSY137 | BIOLOGICAL & CULTURAL EVOLUTION |
| PSY138 | CRIME AND CONFLICT |
| PSY139 | AGGRESSION & WARFARE |
| PSY140 | GENETICS OF BEHAVIOUR |
| PSY141 | REASONING & MOTIVATION |
| PSY142 | SIBLING RIVALRY |
| PSY143 | DARWINIAN MEDICINE |