Module ANTH41130: PRIMATE AND HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Department: Anthropology

ANTH41130: PRIMATE AND HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To introduce students to advanced topics in evolutionary theory is it relates to social behaviour, focussing on primate (including human) examples.
• The primary emphasis is on theoretical models and the critical tests that have been made of them by ethnologists, particularly those working on primates.
• Special regard is paid to the utility and limitations of these models when applied to humans.

Content

• Principles of social evolution:
• Behavioural evolution, the unit of selection and studying adaptation.
• Evolution of mating strategies:
• Evolution of rearing strategies:
• Socioecology:
• Socio-biology:
• Kin selection.
• Evolutionary approaches to human behaviour.

Learning Outcomes

• A firm grasp of contemporary evolutionary theory and the way in which it has been extended to understand reproductive and social behaviour.
• Familiarity with the arguments surrounding the application of evolutionary models to human behaviour.

• An ability to examine critically and independently attempts to test theoretical models, based on an awareness of limitations on the quality of data and the way it is handled, as well as weaknesses in the models themselves.

• Preparation and distribution of written summaries of key points in set topics.
• Essay writing based on independent reading used to address novel issues at an advanced level.
• Students should be able to express themselves clearly and concisely on technical topics, and explain why particular issues are important and/or controversial

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Seminars. Seminars allow students to interrogate the assumptions of the key positions and arguments of important authors.
• Final written examinations test assimilated knowledge and understanding and the ability to write succinctly and analytically at short notice.
• Formative assessment is given for two essays.
• Formative feedback is given for seminar presentations.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative assessment is given for one essays. Formative feedback is given for seminar presentations

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University