Premium
Reviving Evolutionary Psychology: Biology Meets Society
Author(s) -
Caporael Linnda R.,
Brewer Marilynn B.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-4560.1991.tb01830.x
Subject(s) - sociobiology , sociality , evolutionary psychology , reductionism , methodological individualism , multidisciplinary approach , group selection , social evolution , sociology , individualism , selection (genetic algorithm) , epistemology , psychology , cognitive science , ecology , social psychology , social science , biology , artificial intelligence , computer science , anthropology , political science , philosophy , law
This summary article discusses the impoverishment of biological reductionism and the limitations of genetic explanations for complex social arrangements. Because there are no direct links between evolutionary history and present behavior, theories of human evolution must be multidisciplinary. To escape the competitive individualism of sociobiological perspectives, we propose a new basis for evolutionary psychology that focuses on the group as the selection environment for the evolution of human sociality. Finally, we discuss the reasons for attempting to build a socially and scientifically responsible evolutionary psychology.