Evolutionary Psychology: A Very Short Introduction

Summary

How did our brains change over the course of evolution, and what did it mean for our ancestors? Why do we behave the way we do today? Evolutionary psychology is the only framework that allows us to fully understand the nuances of humans' motivations, emotions, cognitions, and behaviors. Our bodies have evolved over time, and so too have our brains. How we respond to situations emotionally, our thoughts, our motivations, and our behaviors have a deep heritage based on the successes of our ancestors in meeting their survival or reproductive needs.

In this Very Short Introduction, Maryanne L. Fisher and T. Joel Wade unfold the intriguing idea that our brain, like every other body part, has been shaped over time by natural and sexual selection. Fisher and Wade consider the contexts in which our ancestors thrived and explore how people today think and act using an evolutionary compass. This research-oriented exploration addresses diverse topics, organized into chapters on the principles underlying this approach, survival issues, group alliances, aggression, family dynamics, and mating strategies. It touches on a broad array of topics like fears, disgust, attraction, sibling conflict, friendship, and homicide.