Evolutionary psychology and its applications
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SEMINAR SCHEDULE
13 January 2009 - Social Brains and Social Networks
5 April 2009 - Intergroup Aggression, Security and Terrorism
28/29 May 2009 - Charity, Philanthropy, and Volunteerism
14 January 2010 - Evolutionary Approaches to Leadership, Management, and Organizational Performance
26 March 2010 - Evolutionary Approaches to Clinical Disorders and Infectious Diseases
tba - Evolutionary Approaches to Poverty and Health Inequalities
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The main aim of this new seminar series is to integrate current research in evolutionary psychology with key areas of application and social policy and to provide a link between academic research and those involved in making and implementing policy in both private and public sectors. The seminar series will broadly focus on the theme of practical applications of evolutionary psychology. Issues that will be addressed include: implications of evolutionary psychology for social networks and social cohesion, intergroup conflict and aggression, leadership, management and organizational performance, poverty and health inequalities, treatment of clinical disorders and infectious diseases, and charity, philanthropy, and volunteerism. Evolutionary psychology is the scientific study of the human mind as a product of evolution through natural selection. The discipline dates back to Charles Darwin, the father of modern evolutionary theory, who wrote about 150 years ago in On the Origins of Species that “Psychology will be built on a new foundation.” Although evolutionary psychology still is a relatively young academic discipline, in less than 20 years it has penetrated virtually every existing branch of psychology, including social, cognitive, developmental, and clinical psychology as well as influenced various other social science disciplines such as anthropology, economics, and political science. Evolutionary psychology has greatly contributed to understanding psychological and behavioural phenomena within these traditional areas and has proven to be a very useful heuristic tool for generating novel questions and insights into current social issues. Kurt Lewin once noted that there is nothing so practical as a good theory. The aim of this seminar series is to examine the practical utility of evolutionary psychology as a tool for making and informing policy. Evolutionary psychologists in the UK have been engaged, for some time now, in ESRC-funded research on applied issues. Current projects include the application of evolutionary psychology to understanding social cohesion, religion, altruism and volunteering, leadership and business, poverty and aspects of mental and physical health. However, as far as we are aware, there have been no systematic attempts to bring these researchers together and connect them with people involved in policy development in public and private sectors who are interested in learning more about these insights (individually, there have been many contacts between evolutionary-minded academics and practitioners).
ORGANISERS
SEMINAR SCHEDULE
Date: 13 January 2009 e.g., How do we design effective organisational structures considering the strengths and limits of our social brain? What institutional mechanisms do we have to promote social cohesion in often diverse groups and communities? How can loyalty be fostered to large, anonymous communities and businesses, and how can they work effectively given the limitations of our social brain? What is the role of religion and rituals in promoting social cohesion? Understanding these issues contributes to better understanding of ways to foster social cohesion in large, diverse communities and organisations.
Date: 5 April 2009 Gang violence, terrorism, and hooliganism are significant threats to the stability of our society. What are the causes of these aggressive tribal behaviours and how does an evolutionary perspective contribute to understanding when it emerges and who are the most likely perpetrators and victims? Why seem particularly young males attracted to gangs and other radical groups and movements? How can society guide these tribal “instincts” in more desirable ways so as to be of benefit rather than harm to society? Answers to these questions might help in promoting more peaceful community relations within society.
Date: 28/29 May 2009 What motivates people to act against their self-interest by donating money to charities, time to do volunteer work, and making an effort to save the environment? What are the origins of individual differences in such altruism? What role do reputations and celebrities play in fostering altruism in society? How can communities turn people’s altruistic motivations into effective collective action? Understanding these issues might inform strategies to promote a charity culture in Britain.
Date: 14 January 2010 Are there forms of organisation, management methods, ways of making decisions, styles of leadership, team structures and processes, job designs, and approaches to commercial intercourse that are more attuned to our evolved psychology than others? Are there any case examples that point at a more efficient, effective and conflict-free business based on principles from evolutionary psychology? How can family and communitarian business cultures achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in a global economy? Answers to these key questions might produce new insights into ways of improving business performance.
Date: 26 March 2010 e.g., How does an evolutionary perspective help in understanding the onset of clinical disorders such as depression, autism, and schizophrenia and can we identify particular risk groups based on evolutionary reasoning? What sorts of clinical treatments are suggested by adopting an evolutionary approach and how effective are they? Can we make predictions about the spread of infectious viral and bacterial diseases by viewing these diseases in terms of an evolutionary arms race between parasite and host? Understanding these issues may contribute to improving public health.
Date: tba This seminar will explore how evolutionary psychology contributes to an understanding of persistent health inequalities in UK society. How do health inequalities relate to poverty? What matters more, relative income or social status? If social status matters, does greater inequality make it matter more? How does poverty contribute to teenage pregnancy and teenage male violence? In general, how does an evolutionary perspective help in answering questions that epidemiologists are asking concerning public health? An understanding of these issues might help develop policies to foster public health.
LINKS
Human Behavior and Evolution Society
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Designed by: Joris Gillet - last update: 22.05.2009 |