MMB8047 : Evolution and Human Behaviour
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Vivek Nityananda
- Lecturer: Dr Christine Cuskley
- Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module will provide students with a core understanding of evolutionary theory and biology, designed specifically for students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds in behavioural sciences. The module will give students an understanding of the historical context of evolutionary theory through a brief history of evolutionary biology, and progress into a detailed understanding of the modern synthesis and associated concepts. Finally, the course will engage the students in applying these concepts to human behaviour in particular, covering current research in behavioural ecology, evolutionary medicine and cultural evolution. As well as providing a primer for the core concepts of modern evolutionary theory and practice, the course situates evolutionary biology in a wider context, covering the historical development of evolutionary theory, its philosophical ramifications, and its impacts and applications in the human social, behavioral and health sciences. The module is primarily designed as a unifying thread for the MRes strand in Evolution and Human Behaviour, but students from other strands are welcome and will not be at a disadvantage.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module will start with an introductory session and then include material on the following topics:
o Principles of evolutionary biology
o History of life and the hominid line
o Variation and Heredity
o Competition and Selection
o Population genetics
o Genetics and behaviour
o Cooperation, competition and game theory
o Plasticity and learning
o Language and communication
o Gene-culture co-evolution
o Cultural evolution
o Complex systems and collective behaviour
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 60:00 | 60:00 | Assessment preparation and submission |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 10 | 2:00 | 20:00 | Present in person (PIP): Interactive lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | Preparing notes from lectures and reading |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 80:00 | 80:00 | Reading, independent study and assignment preparation |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
This course is mainly focussed on students learning a new theoretical framework that is likely to be outside their previous area(s) of expertise. While many students may have encountered evolutionary theory in passing, they do not have an in-depth understanding of its underlying history, concepts, and applications to human behaviour in particular. The primary focus on lectures by experts who use evolutionary theory in their research will provide students with a solid foundation in evolutionary theory while also demonstrating the broad and diverse applications of the approach.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 50 | A 2000 word critical review of a relevant piece of research in light of relevant evolutionary theory |
| Essay | 1 | M | 50 | A set of 10 short answers (up to 200 words) covering key topics of the course |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 1 | M | A 15 minute critical presentation of a research paper with 5 minutes for questions |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Essay 1 will be a short review of a piece of research in human behavioural science which critiques the work specifically from an evolutionary point of view. This is especially intended to evaluate skill outcome 2: “Critically and constructively evaluate research in the behavioural sciences in an evolutionary context”.
Essay 2 will specifically assess students’ ability to clearly explain complex technical concepts that often have different (but related) lay definitions (e.g., heritiability, adaptation). The short answer format is chosen over a longer form essay to emphasise concise communication of complex concepts over longer form argumentation. Questions will be made available on a Monday for submission by the Friday.
The formative presentation allows students to receive feedback on their understanding of how the reading and course material applies to current research and how to assess it.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MMB8047's Timetable