PN3036 Evolutionary and Comparative Psychology

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

10

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available to General Degree students with permission of the Psychology Honours Adviser

Planned timetable

Lectures: Tuesdays 9-11; Workshops: Tuesdays one of 2-3:30, 3:30-5 (Module runs in Weeks 7-11 only).

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof C L Hobaiter

Prof C L Hobaiter
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr C Hobaiter

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module will address evolutionary and comparative approaches to psychology. The aim is to provide an understanding of major evolutionary forces and how they have shaped animal and human behaviour and psychology. Key principles, concepts and methodologies will be introduced and related to specific topic areas such as the evolution of social behaviour and the evolutionary origins of language and cognition.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS PN2002 OR PASS PS2002 )

Assessment pattern

Take-home format Written Examination = 100%

Re-assessment

Take-home format Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2-hour lecture and 1 x 1.5-hour laboratory class or seminar (Weeks 7 - 11).

Intended learning outcomes

  • describe how selection can act to shape our behaviour, as well as our bodies, over evolutionary time
  • describe to what extent behavioural heuristics adapted to our environment of evolutionary selection are relevant to describe modern human behaviour in the 21st Century
  • describe which cognitive processes are involved in human language, and how human language fits into the broad spectrum of animal communication systems
  • develop a hypothesis about animal and/or human behaviour and describe the different steps needed to implement a suitable method for testing it. These steps include taking into account theoretical, practical, and ethical considerations.