Evolutionary thought in psychology : a brief history / Henry Plotkin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Plotkin, H. C. (Henry C.)

Series:

Blackwell brief histories of psychology ; 2.

Blackwell brief histories of psychology ; 2

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Evolutionary psychology--History.

Evolutionary psychology.

History.

Physical Description:

xi, 169 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Malden, MA : Blackwell Pub., 2004.

Summary:

This book traces the history of evolutionary thought in psychology in an accessible and lively fashion. The book focuses on the rise of evolutionary theories begun by Lamarck and Darwin and the creation of the science of psychology. Evolutionary thought's banishment in the early 20th century by behaviorism and cultural anthropology is explained, along with its eventual re-emergence through ethology and sociobiology. Evolutionary Thought in Psychology: A Brief History examines the complex and changing relations between psychology and evolutionary theory.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Curious Histories 1

Chapter 2 Before Darwin 9

Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck 20

Herbert Spencer 24

Chapter 3 Psychology Born and the Darwinian Revolution 28

The New Science of Mind 28

The Darwinian Revolution 33

Darwin's Immediate Successors 38

Early Psychology in the United States 44

Chapter 4 The Near Death of Darwinism in the Social Sciences 48

Evolution after Darwin 48

Behaviorism Takes Hold in Psychology 53

The Rise of Cultural Anthropology 62

Chapter 5 An Exceptional Case 70

The Fundamental Problem 71

A New Factor in Evolution 77

Evolutionary Epistemology 83

Fall and Decline 88

Chapter 6 Lessons to be Learned: Ethology and Sociobiology 90

Classical Ethology 91

Sociobiology 105

Chapter 7 Contemporary Evolutionary Psychology 123

Evolutionary Theory from 1959 124

Necessary Precursors in the Main Discipline 129

Evolutionary Psychology Reborn 134

Which Side is Bringing Science into Disrepute? 148

A Natural Science of Culture 154

Chapter 8 Future Prospects 158.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [162]-165) and index.

ISBN:

1405113774

1405113782

OCLC:

53992875