View Full Version : Could you recommend
Elysian
25th March 2012, 11:59
some interesting books on evolutionary psychology?
Thanks.
MarxSchmarx
26th March 2012, 02:43
I don't much care for the field, but if you want something straight from the horse's mouth I'd recommend "On Human Nature" by E. O. Wilson - his ideas are a bit dated but they give a compelling case for evolutionary approaches to psychology.
I'm not sure if you would include linguistics in your interests as well, but this book is also next on my reading list:
http://www.economist.com/node/21550238
Apparently the author take's down Chomsky's theory that we have a common, innate capacity ready to learn and use language in very similar ways. I read his memoir and as a non-linguist find this debate quite intriguing.
Caj
26th March 2012, 02:48
Evolutionary psychology is something that should be read very skeptically, because it is a very speculative field. Often times, evolutionary psychologists will simply assume that certain human behaviors are evolutionary in origin and underestimate or completely ignore the influence that society and environment has on human behavior.
Steven Pinker's books aren't awful even though he sometimes makes ridiculous claims. Again, just read it skeptically.
RGacky3
27th March 2012, 08:57
I agree with Caj, its not at all a settled science, and its not at all something that all people even think can be studied as of now, so you have to be careful taking things in this area as gospel.
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