Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Psychology School
This course is designed to give students a working knowledge of how to correctly apply evolutionary biology to the study of human behaviour. Evolutionary psychologists use evolutionary biology to make inferences about psychological mechanisms. There are several ways of reconstructing humans' evolutionary past, leading to different sorts of psychological hypotheses. The course covers what psychologists can learn from game theory, hominid archaeology, primate behaviour, and hunter-gatherer cultures, giving an overview of the major sources of hypotheses in evolutionary psychology. Throughout, we will balance theory with critical review of empirical studies in evolutionary psychology.
The course starts with an introduction toﾠwhat is currently known about human evolution (e.g., what species of hominids lived where and when etc.), and about our closest living relatives (monkeys and apes). A major subsequent themeﾠis the identification of what psychological traits are shared with other animals and what in fact sets human minds apart. In this context weﾠwill discuss research onﾠa range of topics from language, mental time travel andﾠtheory of mind, to self-awareness, imagination andﾠculture.ﾠIdentification of what in fact constitutes the "gap" between human and animal mind isﾠa crucial starting point forﾠany explanation as to howﾠthe human mindﾠevolved.ﾠVarious theories about what has driven human psychologicalﾠevolution will be discussed.ﾠﾠﾠ
Whereas most of the course deals with psychological evolution, the final thirdﾠis devoted to "Evolutionary Psychology".ﾠEvolutionary psychology generally means examining some aspect of humans’ evolutionary past, and using that to make inferences about currentﾠpsychological mechanisms. We will discuss examples of this approach in diverse contexts such asﾠgame theory andﾠhumanﾠmating.ﾠIn recent yearsﾠpsychologists from various subdisciplines (e.g. clinical, cognitive, developmental, neuro, socialﾠﾠetc) are increasingly using evolutionary arguments. So it is importantﾠto be able to evaluate the merits of those arguments.ﾠThoughﾠan evolutionary perspective can offer novel predictions and explanations, certainly not all hypotheses advanced as “evolutionary psychology” have scientific merit.ﾠThis course should give students the backgroundﾠto pursue rigorous research, and to evaluate the work of others pursuing an evolutionary approach.ﾠ
Course requirements
Assumed background
Interest in learning about where we come from and ideally completion of 2nd-year courses in Psychology.
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
PSYC2050
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course is designed to give students a working knowledge about key facts and theories about human psychological evolution.ﾠ The comparative approach will be employedﾠto identifyﾠwhat psychological traits are shared with other animals and whatﾠsets human minds apart. In this context weﾠcover a rangeﾠof topics from language, mental time travel andﾠtheory of mind, to self-awareness, imagination andﾠculture.ﾠIn attempting to identify what in fact constitutes the "gap" between human and animal mind, and how it evolved, we will learn aboutﾠfindingsﾠinﾠcomparative psychology, developmental psychology and physical anthropology.ﾠﾠVarious theories about what has driven human psychologicalﾠevolution will be discussed.ﾠThis will provide the necessary background toﾠinterpret and evaluate current hypotheses in "evolutionary psychology".ﾠ We will introduce selected examples to illustrateﾠthese increasingly popular approaches to psychological questions.ﾠThis course should give students the backgroundﾠto situate human nature in the larger evolutionary picture and to pursue rigorous research in evolutionary psychology, as well as to critically evaluateﾠpsychological workﾠthat employs an evolutionary approach.ﾠ
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Define and explain basic terms & concepts from evolutionary biology
LO2.
Recognize and name the time periods, skeletal structure, and artifacts associated with a variety of hominin species
LO3.
Define and explain the differences between the major groups of living primates
LO4.
Explain and work with concepts from game theory as used in behavioural ecology in modeling cooperation & competition
LO5.
Explain the importance of kinship & relatedness in contributing to certain social behaviour patterns
LO6.
Explain theories and controversies concerning which species are or are not ancestral to our own species
LO7.
Explain what can be learned from studying common and unique cognitive abilities & brain systems between humans and other primates
LO8.
Explain where evolutionary theory predicts differences in male and female mating strategies
LO9.
Use knowledge of behavioural ecology, anthropological studies, primate studies or archaeological studies to critique theories in evolutionary psychology
LO10.
Evaluate the quality of some empirical evidence for theories in evolutionary psychology
LO11.
Demonstrate your understanding of these facts & concepts in tests, essays, debates & oral presentations
LO12.
Explain many of the major things known about the mental capacities of great apes
LO13.
Describe key concepts in the debates about the nature and evolution of language, theory of mind, mental time travel, imagination, self-awareness and culture.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Presentation |
Participation and presentation in tutorials
|
15% |
3/03/2025 - 30/05/2025 |
| Quiz |
In class quiz
|
20% |
1/04/2025
In the lecture |
| Essay/ Critique |
Guided essay on presentation topic
|
25% |
19/05/2025 3:00 pm |
| Examination | Final exam | 40% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
Assessment details
Participation and presentation in tutorials
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Presentation
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
3/03/2025 - 30/05/2025
Task description
Participation: to gain these marks you need to contribute to the tutorial component of the course. This includes giving a presentation on a potential human cognitive autapomorphy. In addition to contributing to tutorial discussions students are to provide feedback on others' presentations each week.
Students will be provided with a marking criteria for the presentation component of this course.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
If you are unable to complete your presentation you should submit your appropriate documentation (as per the extension policy) to your tutor and/or course coordinator to arrange for an alternate time to complete your presentation.
In class quiz
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
1/04/2025
In the lecture
Task description
The quiz takes place in the lecture (unless you have special considerations and then it will be in separate room at the same time), is invigilated and requires the use of a device (e.g., laptop) - given that it is online.
You have 30 minutes to complete the quiz, which comprises 20 multiple choice questions (worth 1% each). This is NOT an open book quiz and you cannot use internet resources (e.g., chat gpt). YOU MUST BE IN THE LECTURE TO TAKE THE QUIZ (unless you have special considerations and then it will be in separate room at the same time). THIS IS NOT AN AT HOME QUIZ.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam.
Guided essay on presentation topic
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
19/05/2025 3:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
Students are asked to research and write a critical essay on the topic they presented. A set of questions will be provided to guide students in the structure of the essay. The essay is up to 1200 words long and will be evaluated in terms of the clarity and persuasiveness of the answers to each of the set questions.
Submission guidelines
Assignments must be submitted electronically via Turnitin (through the course blackboard site). Please note no receipt will be sent via email but you can access a digital receipt through the Assessment Dashboard (click on the Turnitin link).
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Final exam
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Inspera |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
central exam
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 25 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 26 - 47 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 48 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Percentage marks will be rounded to the nearest whole number ie. 84.4% will round down to 84%ﾠand 84.5% will round up to 85%. This will apply to all grade cutoffs apart from a grade of 4. The minimum pass mark is 50%.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| THE GAP – The Science of What Separates Us from Other Animals. Basic Books. | required reading |
Additional learning resources information
Other resources (papers, docos, websites) will be made available in due course
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Lecture |
Evolution and Psychology Introduction to evolution and psychology |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Lecture |
Ancestors Overview of human evolution |
Tutorial |
Evolution and psychology Basics of evolution |
|
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Lecture |
Primate relatives |
Tutorial |
Ancestors Fossils and prehistory; introduction to presentation and essay |
|
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Lecture |
The gap 1st Lecture on The GAP Learning outcomes: L02 |
Tutorial |
Primates and the gap Primates and the gap; guidelines for presentations and essay Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
|
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Lecture |
The gap Language, mental time travel, theory of mind, reason, culture and morality |
Tutorial |
Topic allocation Research and topic allocation |
|
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Lecture |
The gap Language, mental time travel, theory of mind, reason, culture and morality |
Tutorial |
Presentations Student presentations |
|
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Lecture |
The gap Language, mental time travel, theory of mind, reason, culture and morality |
Tutorial |
Presentations Student presentations |
|
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Tutorial |
Presentations |
Lecture |
The gap Language, mental time travel, theory of mind, reason, culture and morality |
|
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Tutorial |
Presentations Student presentations |
Lecture |
The gap Language, mental time travel, theory of mind, reason, culture and morality |
|
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Lecture |
Sex mating |
Tutorial |
Presentations |
|
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Lecture |
TBA |
Tutorial |
Cooperation Game theory |
|
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Lecture |
Evolutionary Psychology |
Tutorial |
Mating Video and discussion |
|
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Lecture |
Psychology and Evolution Examples of recent application of evolutionary theory to various subdisciplines of psychology Learning outcomes: L10 |
Tutorial |
Evolutionary Psychology and Review |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: