Evolutionary psychology: Toward a unifying theory and a hybrid science

Authors
Citation
Lr. Caporael, Evolutionary psychology: Toward a unifying theory and a hybrid science, ANN R PSYCH, 52, 2001, pp. 607-628
Citations number
154
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology,"Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PSYCHOLOGY
ISSN journal
00664308 → ACNP
Volume
52
Year of publication
2001
Pages
607 - 628
Database
ISI
SICI code
0066-4308(2001)52:<607:EPTAUT>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
Although evolutionary psychology is typically associated with "selfish gene theory," numerous other approaches to the study of mind and behavior provi de a wealth of concepts for theorizing about psychology, culture, and devel opment. These include general evolutionary approaches and theories focused on sociality, dual inheritance, multilevel selection, and developmental sys tems. Most evolutionary accounts use the same methods as Darwin-the "fit am ong facts"-to use natural selection as an explanation for behavior. Scienti fic standards for constraining and evaluating such accounts, research into the mutual influence of science and society on the understanding of evoluti on, and computational technologies for modeling species-typical processes a re important considerations. Coevolutionary theories and developmental syst ems theories may eventually give rise to unification in a broad and general sense. Such a unification would be interdisciplinary and problem centered rather than discipline centered.