Evolutionary Psychology is a theoretical approach that studies animal minds and behavior based on the human evolutionary process. It analyzes the evolved psychological traits, like human beings’ natural selection. According to researchers and psychologists, the animal brain also adapts to situations and takes action accordingly. Animals psychologically adapt to the environment in the same process as physical adaptation. Evolutionary psychology mainly focuses on how Darwin’s evolution has molded animal minds and behavior. The following are some of the best books on evolutionary psychology.
10 Best Books on Evolutionary Psychology
I think these books will give you a better understanding of evolutionary psychology.
1. Evolutionary Psychology, by David Buss
In Evolutionary Psychology, Buss has explained the human mind’s mechanisms that separate us from other life forms. Evolutionary psychology is an innovative science. It is a combination of both the modern principles of psychology and evolutionary biology. There are actual biological perspective examples that will inform you about the environment of evolutionary adaptedness.
The adapted mind always tries to control our surroundings. In this book, Buss provides students with theories and concepts to study human behavior from the perspective of evolution. He explains the evolution of the human mind with the help of evolutionary psychology. The book contains critical thinking questions and case studies to help students understand evolutionary psychology.
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| Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind |
$96.99
$67.30 | Buy on Amazon | |
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| Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind |
$94.99
$74.50 | Buy on Amazon | |
| 3 |
| Evolutionary Psychology: An Audio Guide | $19.49 $17.05 | Buy on Amazon |
2. Positive Evolutionary Psychology, by Glenn Geher and Nicole Wedberg
Nicole Wedberg is a Psychology Master’s student at SUNY New Paltz. She is working on her thesis and assisting several research projects on Evolutionary Psychology.
Positive Evolutionary Psychology is one of the best books on evolutionary psychology. The book contains eleven chapters describing the fundamentals of evolutionary and positive psychology. The authors have explained how psychologists use Darwin’s understanding to improve the lives of individuals and communities. The book shows the difference between evolution and natural selection.
This book brings insight into incorporating evolutionary and positive psychology and its effect on human life. With this two help, psychologists have deciphered happiness, resilience, gratitude, and love. The book describes these aspects of human life from evolutionary and positive psychology perspectives.
3. Male, Female, by Dr. David C. Geary PhD
Male, the Female, is one of the best books on evolutionary psychology. In this book, Geary has described the foundations of human sex differences. Geary says that men and women differ based on evolutionary principles. Sex differences in human beings are similar to those of other species, but the expression is unique to humans. There are a lot of evolutionary psychology studies.
This book explains the principles of sexual selection, such as female choice, male-male competition, sex differences in parenting, social-political preferences, brain development, cognition, etc. Geary has explained the development of sex differences with the help of evolutionary psychology.
4. Beyond Evolutionary Psychology, by George Ellis
Beyond Evolutionary Psychology discusses the relationship between evolution, culture, psychology, and emotion. Ellis explains this relation with the help of our evolutionary heritage and ecological and social environment. The author shows us how our brain develops our cognition and behavior. As a result, it becomes difficult for readers to understand the inborn and learned brain modules.
Ellis explains that humans are not born with any language device; they must acquire that language. This book is significant for students of evolutionary psychology and biology. Also, you will get in touch with famous biological psychologists from this book.
This evolution book will teach how the mind works in the blank slate of our cognitive process.
5. Evolutionary Psychiatry, by Anthony Stevens and John Price
Evolutionary Psychiatry is one of the best books on evolutionary developmental psychology. This book’s authors explained a different psychiatry structure, concluding Darwin’s theory. According to the authors, psychiatric symptoms indicate ancient adaptive strategies. These symptoms can be treated evolutionarily. In this book, the authors have mentioned many theories on the existence of different psychological disorders. Inherently, we possess selfish genes. The selfish gene always tries to control our minds and body. This book clearly defines human nature psychology.
The book also provides detailed information on various disorders and shows how the evolutionary theory can identify symptoms’ origin. This book takes Darwinian Psychiatry to a new level for both the special.
6. The Cambridge Handbook of Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Behaviour, by Lance Workman, Will Reader, et al.
This book mainly focuses on evolutionary psychology, ethology, and human behavioral ecology. But it also explains other aspects of human sciences, such as neuroscience, cognitive science, sociocultural anthropology, clinical psychology, etc.
The authors have described Darwin’s evolution and influence in the respective fields in this book. The book contains current theories and ideas of several researchers on evolutionary psychology. There are a lot of evolutionary perspective examples in this book. This book is not only helpful for evolutionary psychologists. It is a valuable asset for scholars and students as well.
7. The Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology and Behavioral Endocrinology, by Lisa L. M. Welling and Todd K. Shackelford
Todd K. Shackelford is an American psychologist. He is a professor at Oakland University. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science.
What is evolution? You can know it perfectly from this book. This is one of the excellent books which I like most. This handbook is one of the best books on evolutionary psychology. It explains behavioral endocrinology from the perspective of evolutionary psychology.
The book focuses on three themes – (a) Development and survival, (b) Reproductive behavior, and (c) Social and affective behavior. It tries to explain the influence of hormones on life history, mate selection, violence, mood disorders, etc. This book covers various topics of both evolutionary psychology and behavioral endocrinology. It makes a beneficial resource for both students and researchers.
8. Evolutionary Psychology 101, by Glenn Geher PhD
Evolutionary Psychology 101 elaborately discusses various theories of evolutionary psychology and their controversies. In this book, the author explains the psychological processes of human survival and its reproductive benefits. It gives an insight into how sexual selection can shape the human mind. This book is one of the best foundations of evolutionary psychology.
This book discusses childhood, intrasexual competition, sex, parenting, familial and non-familial relationships, and much more. The author also gives an idea of how the potential of evolutionary psychology influences society and religion. The book also discusses controversies such as genetic determinism, racism, and sexism.
9. Evolutionary Psychology, by Robin Dunbar, Louise Barrett, et al.
Louise Barrett is a psychology professor at the University of Lethbridge. She is also a trained ecologist and anthropologist. Her animal research shows ecology’s influence on sociability and cognitive evolution.
In Evolutionary Psychology, the authors explain the influences of evolutionary theory on human behavior. This beginner’s guide is one of the best books on evolutionary psychology. It is mainly written for general readers and students.
This book covers all the fundamental topics of the subject. These include the role of evolution in mate selection, genetic influence on parenting, and so on. The book reviews evolutionary psychology through examples, case studies, and contextual facts.
10. The Evolution of Desire, by David M. Buss
The Evolution of Desire is one of the best books on evolutionary psychology. This book explains human mating behavior and secrecies of love through evolutionary psychology. The textbook answers this simple question – “If we all desire love, then why do conflicts cross the way of our relationships?” The author advises the readers to dive deep into our evolutionary past to understand human mating.
This book includes studies of more than 10,000 people of different ages and cultures. The book explains all men’s and women’s wants, drawing on examples from several research types. It also focuses on why sexual desires vary from men to men, women to women, and men to women. The author also explains how conflict, competition, and manipulative behaviors alter human mating.
Evolutionary psychology is not only a sub-discipline of psychology. Its evolutionary theory can create a strong foundation for all the fields of psychology, like evolutionary biology. These books will help the readers dive deep into evolutionary psychology’s history and its applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is the founder of evolutionary psychology?
Charles Darwin is considered to be the founder of evolutionary psychology. According to Darwin, the social instincts of human beings have evolved through natural selection. Later, psychologists became interested in Darwin’s theory of evolution, which resulted in different evolutionary psychology theories. Like our social instincts, our psychological instincts evolve with time and the environment.
2. What is the evolutionary psychology example?
Evolutionary psychologists suggest that animal brains have numerous mechanisms to do specific tasks. For instance, birds use a particular memory system to remember species’ songs. They use a completely different memory system to remember the taste of poisonous food and the location of healthy food.
3. What is the impact of evolutionary psychology on human behavior?
Evolutionary psychologists have stated that different behavior patterns result from natural selection. This means physical characteristics and behavior have both evolved from natural selection. Hence adaptive behaviors are kept and passed from one generation to another. And these adaptive behaviors increase the success of reproduction.
4. What is psychological adaptation?
A psychological adaptation is a cognitive or behavioral trait that helps an organism to survive in its environment. Psychological adjustments mainly help human beings and animals in the selection of their mating partner. For example, psychological adaptations in males have made them polygynous. This means they can create multiple offspring from separate female partners. Due to psychological adaptation, males can easily lure women into short-term relationships.
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