Evolutionary Psychology OpenCourseWare: A Free Online Grad-Level Course by MIT on the Study of Cognition

Published Jan 15, 2009

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MIT offers this free OpenCourseWare, titled 'Evolutionary Psychology.' The course concentrates on the field of evolution and how the human mind has adapted to changes in both the social and physical environment. Special emphasis is placed on changes in brain structure, cognitive tools and the disparity in behavior among individuals. Graduate students interested in evolution or students pursuing psychology-related degrees, such as the Master of Science degree in Psychology, will find this information to be helpful.

Evolutionary Psychology: Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Graduate Yes No No Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
No Yes No

Evolutionary Psychology: Course Description

The instructor for 'Evolutionary Psychology' is Professor Steven Pinker of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The objective of this free course is to look at the evolutionary development of human and animal cognition over time. This subject is approached from several perspectives, including psychology, sexuality, emotions, social organization and societal beliefs about biology and physical processes. The lecture topics focus on hunters and gatherers, evolutionary theory and neural and behavior mechanisms. Students will also study the concepts underlying the subject of consciousness. The course assignments are not only thought provoking, but make use of practical examples and questions regarding morality.

The materials for this course includes a reading list and a complete list of assignments. If you are interested in taking this course, visit the evolutionary psychology course page.

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