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Evolutionary Psychology: 'New Science of the Mind' or 'Darwinian Fundamentalism'?

Evolutionary Psychology: 'New Science of the Mind' or 'Darwinian Fundamentalism'? <jats:sec><jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>As practitioners of a putative science of the mind, evolutionary psychologists have earned a degree of cachet with their provocative and sometimes controversial pronouncements about human nature and behaviour. In this article, I briefly survey the history of an evolutionary approach to the psychological sciences before considering the core assumptions of the field that has come to be known as 'evolutionary psychology'. By examining one particular example of evolutionary psychological research – on interpersonal attraction – I find this 'new science of the mind' to be lacking. Rather, I propose that developmental systems theory, buffered by a reconsideration of the dialectical sciences, offers a more comprehensive and rigorous approach to psychology. I further propose that historical materialists and those on the Left generally should take a keen interest in these issues as they have a bearing on social and political outcomes.</jats:p> </jats:sec> http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Historical Materialism Brill

Evolutionary Psychology: 'New Science of the Mind' or 'Darwinian Fundamentalism'?

Swami, Viren
Historical Materialism , Volume 15 (4): 105 – Jan 1, 2007
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References (9)

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 2007 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
1465-4466
eISSN
1569-206X
DOI
10.1163/156920607X245850
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

<jats:sec><jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>As practitioners of a putative science of the mind, evolutionary psychologists have earned a degree of cachet with their provocative and sometimes controversial pronouncements about human nature and behaviour. In this article, I briefly survey the history of an evolutionary approach to the psychological sciences before considering the core assumptions of the field that has come to be known as 'evolutionary psychology'. By examining one particular example of evolutionary psychological research – on interpersonal attraction – I find this 'new science of the mind' to be lacking. Rather, I propose that developmental systems theory, buffered by a reconsideration of the dialectical sciences, offers a more comprehensive and rigorous approach to psychology. I further propose that historical materialists and those on the Left generally should take a keen interest in these issues as they have a bearing on social and political outcomes.</jats:p> </jats:sec>

Journal

Historical Materialism – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 2007

Keywords: SOCIOBIOLOGY; DEVELOPMENTAL SYSTEMS THEORY; EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY; DIALECTICAL SCIENCES

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