This course has its precedents in our Faculty's previous curriculum, specifically in the courses 'Ethology', 'Human Ethology', and the Genetics section of 'Foundations of Psychobiology I'. Currently, alongside the course 'Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience', 'Evolution and Behavior' represents the students' initial exposure to the coordinates of Psychobiology (the study of the biological bases of behavior). Later on, the courses 'Physiological Psychology' (2nd year) and 'Foundations of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology' (3rd year) will complete the psychobiological framework. The course 'Evolution and Behavior' aims to place some of the most significant behaviors of our species (particularly social behaviors) in an evolutionary perspective, following current paradigms in this regard. It also seeks to explore the cognitive and emotional processes underlying these behaviors, which are also studied from other perspectives within Psychology.

Knowledge or Content

RCO1. To know and understand the basic laws of the various psychological processes.



RCO2. To know the neurophysiological, genetic, and evolutionary foundations of behavior and psychological processes.



RCO3. To know the anthropological, historical, and sociocultural foundations that influence human psychological functioning.



Competencies

RC2. To be able to gather and interpret relevant data within their area of study to make judgments that include a reflection on social, scientific, or ethical issues.



RC4. To be able to identify and integrate the elements that constitute the psychological substrate of the human being.



Skills Linked to the Degree

RHT1. To be able to apply theoretical knowledge of Psychology to everyday situations and phenomena.



RHT2. To be able to describe and measure variables (individual and group) and cognitive, emotional, psychobiological, behavioral, and psychosocial interaction processes, as well as interpret them by selecting and administering appropriate instruments.



Broad Spectrum Skills

RHE1. To be able to communicate adequately, both orally and in writing.



RHE5. To be able to search, manage, analyze, and critically synthesize information from specialized information and documentation sources.



RHE8. To be able to learn autonomously and value the importance of lifelong learning, in order to keep updated the competencies and knowledge necessary for the proper exercise of the profession and contribute to knowledge.

Topic 1. Introduction to the Evolutionary Analysis of Behavior: Historical Perspective.

Topic 2. Genetics

Topic 3. Evolutionary Mechanisms and the Evolution of Behavior

Topic 4. Biological Processes of Hominization: The Order of Primates and the Evolution of the Human Species

Topic 5. Social Organization and the Evolution of Prosociality

Topic 6. Adaptations for Group Living

Topic 7. Communication

Topic 8. Reproduction and Mating Strategies and Life History

Topic 9. Agonistic Behavior

Topic 10. Evolutionary Analysis of Psychological Disorders

In any case, reading a book or a monograph, chosen from a list, and preparing a two-page summary of said book will be a necessary condition. The reading and submission of this book will be a necessary condition to pass the course.



The evaluation of the theoretical contents of the course (part A, competencies of the course 1, 2, and 4) will be carried out through a mixed test with multiple-choice questions and one or more open-ended questions, where each topic will have a weighted importance based on its relevance and the corresponding hours of study. This test will assess students' knowledge of the theory of evolution, the genetic bases of behavior, the main paradigms on the evolutionary analysis of human behavior, as well as a wide range of behaviors that can be analyzed using the theory of evolution as an analytical tool (altruism, mate selection, aggression, etc.). The maximum score for this part will be 70 points (out of a total of 100), to which up to 30 points corresponding to the practical part (part B, see section 4.2 of this guide) can be added. To add the scores obtained in both parts (A + B), it will be necessary to obtain at least 40% of the possible points in each part.



Evaluation of the Practical Part

With the practices, a maximum of 30 points can be obtained, which will be added to the theoretical score as long as at least 12 points (40%) have been obtained in them. The evaluation can be carried out in two ways (to be chosen): continuously or in the final exam. Continuous evaluation will involve the submission of an individual report (5 points), eight quizzes that students will complete during the practices, of which four will be evaluated (10 points), and the submission of the completed practice notebook. The remaining 15 points (up to 30) can be obtained by answering specific multiple-choice questions in the final exam about the readings worked on in each practice session. In the final evaluation mode, in addition to the specific multiple-choice questions in the final exam about the readings worked on in each practice session (15 points), a series of open-ended questions about the readings worked on in each practice session must also be answered (15 points).

• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 15
  • Multiple-Choice Test (%): 55
  • Individual works (%): 15
  • Exhibition of works, readings ... (%): 15

The assessment of this course can be carried out through Mixed Evaluation (A) or by means of a Final Exam (B). In any case, reading a book or a monograph, chosen from a list, and preparing a two-page summary of said book will be a necessary condition. The reading and submission of this book will be a necessary condition to pass the course.



(A) Mixed Evaluation. It will be based on the submission of an individual written paper, the completed practice notebook, and the completion of eight quizzes during the practices, of which four will be evaluated. With these submissions and their evaluation, it will be possible to obtain the equivalent of 15% of the final grade. A quiz on the practice readings, to be taken along with the final theoretical exam, will allow for another 15% of the final grade. The final theoretical exam will have a value of 70% of the final grade, with the multiple-choice part worth 55 points and one or more open-ended questions worth 15 points.



(B) Final Exam. All students will have the right to take the final exam (Theoretical-Practical) of the course and obtain 100% of the grade. This final exam, in addition to the theoretical content, will cover all the readings used in the practices.

In this course, it will be sufficient not to attend the exam to forfeit the exam session.



Clarifying Notes:

The practical grade from the regular exam session will be carried over to the extraordinary session within the same academic year but not to subsequent years.

In this course, it will be sufficient not to attend the exam to forfeit the exam session.

This course does not have mandatory material.

Basic bibliography

(Sig. = Referencia en Biblioteca)



- Boyd, R. y Silk, J.B. (2001). Cómo evolucionaron los humanos. Barcelona: Ariel. Sig. 572.17.4

- Buss, D.M. (2011). Evolutionary psychology: The new science of the mind. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Sig. 159.922 EVO

- Carranza, J. (Arg.)(1994). Etología. Introducción a la ciencia del comportamiento. Cáceres, Espainia: Universidad de Extremadura. Sig. 591.5

- Cartwright, J. (2018). Evolution and human behaviour: Darwinian perspectives on the human condition. Red Globe Press (Macmillan International Higher Education).

- Crawford, C. y Krebs, D. (eds.)(2008). Foundations of evolutionary psychology. New York: Lawrence.

In-depth bibliography

Alcock, J. (2001). Animal behavior. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates. Sig. 591.5 ANI
- Axelrod, R. (1986). La evolución de la cooperación. Madrid, Alianza. Sig. 316.47
- Brüne, M. (2008). Textbook of evolutionary psychiatry: the origins of psychopathology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Sig. 616.89 TEX
- Buss, D.M. (2004). La evolución del deseo. Estrategias del emparejamiento humano. Madrid,
Alianza. Sig. 392.6 EVO
- Coppens, Y. y Picq, P. (eds.) (2004). Los orígenes de la humanidad I. De la aparición de la vida al hombre moderno. Madrid: Espasa. Sig. 572.1/.4 ORI/I
- Dunbar, R.I.M. y Barret, L. (ed.) (2007). The Oxford handbook of evolutionary psychology. Oxford:Oxford University Press. Sig. 159.922 OXF
- Fisher, E.H. (1994). Anatomía del amor. Historia natural del adulterio, la monogamia y el divorcio. Barcelona, Anagrama. Sig. 392.6 FIS
- García Leal, A. (2005). La conjura de los machos. Una visión evolucionista de la sexualidad humana. Barcelona: Tusquets. Sig. 613.88 CON
- Goodenough, J., McGuire, B. y Wallace, R. (2001). Perspectives on animal behavior. New York: WW.
Norton and Company. Sig. 591.5 PER
- Guillén-Salazar, F. (ed.)(2005). Existo, luego pienso. Los primates y la evolución de la inteligencia. Madrid: Ateles. Sig. 591.51 EXI
- Montagner, H. (1988). L'enfant et la communication. Paris, Stock/Laurence Pernod. Sig. 159.922.7
- Pinker, S. (2003). La tabla rasa. La negación moderna de la naturaleza humana. Barcelona: Piadós.
Sig. 159.922.3 TAB
- Ridley, M. (2004). Qué nos hace humanos. Madrid, Taurus. Sig. 159.922.3QUE

Journals

- Human Behavior and Evolution
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Brain and Behavioral Sciences
- Animal Behavior

Web addresses

The following pages have links to research and teaching groups in the field:

- International Society for Human Ethology:http://evolution.anthro.univie.ac.at/ishe/
- Sociedad Española de Primatología: http://www.uam.es/otros/ape/
- Sociedad Española de Etología: http://webs.uvigo.es/c04/webc04/etologia/index.html