The origin of mind : evolution of brain, cognition, and general intelligence / David C. Geary.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Geary, David C., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cognitive neuroscience.

Brain--Evolution.

Brain.

Evolutionary psychology.

Neurosciences.

Medical Subjects:

Neurosciences.

Brain.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Edition:

First edition.

Other Title:

APA PsycBOOKS.

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : American Psychological Association, [2005]

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

text file

Summary:

"This book sets out a comprehensive, integrated theory of why and how the human mind has developed to function as it does. Geary proposes that human motivational, affective, behavioral, and cognitive systems have evolved to process social and ecological information (e.g., facial expressions) that covaried with survival or reproductive options during human evolution. In this view, Darwin's conceptualization of natural selection as a "struggle for existence" becomes, for us, a struggle with other human beings for control of the available resources. This struggle provides a means of integrating modular brain and cognitive systems such as language with those brain and cognitive systems that support general intelligence. To support his arguments, Geary draws on an impressive array of recent findings in cognitive science and neuroscience as well as primatology, anthropology, and sociology. Geary also explores a number of issues that are of interest in modern society, including how general intelligence relates to academic achievement, occupational status, and income"--Jacket. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved)

Contents:

Introduction and overview

Natural and sexual selection

Hominid evolution and the motivation to control

Evolution and development of brain and cognition

Modular domains of the human mind

Heuristics and controlled problem solving

Evolution of control-related mental models

Evolution of general intelligence

General intelligence in modern society.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 343-417) and indexes.

Electronic reproduction. Washington, D.C. : American Psychological Association, 2006. Available via World Wide Web. Access limited by licensing agreement. s2006 dcunns.

ISBN:

1591471818

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.