Module ANTH42715: Cultural Evolution

Department: Anthropology

ANTH42715: Cultural Evolution

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• The aim of this module is to provide students with a theoretical understanding of cultural evolution as it is studied at a range of scales, from individual social learning to cultural transmission in complex societies among human and non-human animals.

Content

• Social learning mechanisms
• ‘Culture’ in non-human animals
• Evolution of social learning & transmission biases
• Niche construction & gene-culture co-evolution
• Ethnographic studies of cultural evolution
• Evolution of cultural diversity
• Cultural evolution in modern society
• Cumulative cultural evolution
• Evolution of religion
• A variety of applied topics in cultural evolution (eg. animal conservation and human health)

Learning Outcomes

• Sufficient theoretical training to enable, with the appropriate support and facilities, continuation to PhD level research on cultural evolution or the conducting of applied cultural evolution research in a variety of contexts

• An ability to, independently synthesise, critically evaluate and present complex material, including data, evolutionary models and theoretical arguments.
• An ability to think creatively and rigorously about how current theory and empirical findings could be strengthened

• Communication: Students should be able to write clearly and concisely on cultural evolutionary topics, and explain why particular issues are important and/or controversial both in writing and verbally.

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

• Lectures & Tutorials
• Formative assignments during tutorials (e.g. presentations, discussions, debates)
• Formative of abstract / plan of summative essay
• Summative essay, entirely of own choice in consultation with tutors
• Students will be provided with feedback on their formative and summative assignments
• In class assessments and feedback during tutorials
• Will provide students with immediate feedback on their progress and provide the opportunity for individual interaction with tutor

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

In class assessments and feedback during tutorials on advanced and applied topics in cultural evolution. Feedback on an abstract / plan of the summative essay.