Beyond Evolutionary Psychology
Subtitle: How and Why Neuropsychological Modules Arise
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: Jan 26, 2018
Language: eng
Format: paperback
Number of pages: 230
ISBN-13: 9781107661417
Description: The nature/nurture question is an age-old problem. 'Beyond Evolutionary Psychology' deals with the relation between culture, evolution, psychology and emotion, based both in the underlying biology, determined by our evolutionary heritage, and in the interaction of our brain with the physical, ecological and social environment, based in the key property of brain plasticity. Ellis and Solms show how the brain structures that underlie cognition and behaviour relate to each other through developmental processes guided by primary emotional systems. This makes very clear which brain modules are innate or 'hard-wired', and which are 'soft-wired' or determined through environmental interactions. The key finding is that there can be no innate cognitive modules in the neocortex, as this is not possible on both developmental and genetic grounds; in particular there can be no innate language acquisition device. This is essential reading for students and scholars of evolutionary psychology and evolutionary biology.
Notes: Source title: Beyond Evolutionary Psychology: How and Why Neuropsychological Modules Arise (Culture and Psychology)