Customer Reviews

The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology

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This 1,000 page Handbook breaks down the emerging scientific field of evolutionary psychology into seven major parts:
I. Foundations of Evolutionary Psychology - 5 chapters
(conceptual foundations, life history theory, domain specificity, methods, controversies)

II. Survival- 3 chapters
(locating places, adaptations of predators and prey, adaptations to dangers from humans)

III. Mating - 6 chapters
(mating strategies, physical attractiveness, ovulation, female infidelity, sexual coercion, mate retention)

IV. Parenting and Kinship - 5 chapters
(cooperation and conflict, paternal investment, parent-offspring conflict, altruism, hormones)

V. Group Living - 7 chapters
(neurocognitive adaptations for social exchange, aggression, managing relationships, status hierarchies, language, cognitive bias, morality)

VI. Evolutionizing Traditional Disciplines of Psychology - 6 chapters
(cognitive, social, developmental, personality, biological, and mental health)

VII. Application of EP to Other Disciplines - 2 chapters
(literature, law).

These thirty-four chapters are written by recognized scholars in evolutionary psychology. The Forward, written by Steven Pinker, is both an eloquent description of traditional psychology's "laundry list of unrelated phenomena" and a compelling case that evolutionary psychology will ultimately prove to be the missing link (pun intended) for integrating all of psychology.

As a Handbook, this book is of course not intended to be a first-to-last page read but as a current (as of 2005) description of what is known (and yet-to-be known) in the above sub-disciplines of EP. It meets this goal admirably. It is, or should be, required reading for all graduate students in evolutionary psychology and their mentors. My hope, and only criticism of the present work, is that when a second edition is contemplated, David Buss will see fit to include a dedicated chapter on the evolution of human emotions.

I think that David Buss has assembled a cohesive and thorough overview of evolutionary psychology. This book offers an in depth examination of the standard topics. I believe that this area of psychology will benefit scholars in the social sciences a great deal in the future, as it will lend some substantial connection to the life sciences. I would also recommend Barret,Dunbar, and Lycett.

Well, it's here. This is exciting stuff. If you don't find it exciting it's possible that you are unconcious.
It actually is a relief to me that so much of this is considered controversial or fringe, which is so absurd. perhaps there's a conspiracy by creationists/intelligent designists to select evolutionists as their advanced life forms. I want to be carful not to miss anyone who 400 years after Galleleo's trial, decides now that he still needs forgiveness.
We are truely at the threshold of a brave new world.