SCHOOL OF ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT
DIVISION OF PSYCHOLOGY & SOCIOLOGY
LEVEL 4 DIET 2
MODULE CODE: X4040
MODULE TITLE: Evolutionary Psychology
DATE: 29/07/2015
WRITING TIME: 2 Hours
TIME: 2.00PM
READING TIME: 5 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS: Candidates must answer ONE question from
Section A and ONE question from Section B. Use a separate
answer booklet for each question.
PAPER SETTER: Stuart Wilson
Answer ONE question from each section.
Section A: General and Conceptual Issues
1. What assumptions do evolutionary psychologists make about the nature of human cognition
that sets the approach apart from other theoretical approaches, and what (in your opinion)
are the benefits and/or drawbacks inherent in adopting these assumptions?
2. The Standard Social Science Model suggests that human behaviour is best explained as being
the result of general learning mechanisms interacting with the current environment. In what
ways have evolutionary-minded academics criticised this explanation as inappropriate?
3. In your opinion, what critiques of evolutionary psychology have the greatest validity and
why? Answer with reference to both conceptual and empirical issues.
Section B: Topics in Evolutionary Psychology
1. In most human cultures studied, males appear to be more aggressive than females. What do
evolutionary psychologists have to say about this?
2. Critically review the evidence that humans have cognitive adaptations for social exchanges.
3. “Culture” necessarily involves interactions between many factors. Discuss one account
that places emphasis on the interaction between genes and environment, highlighting
its main strengths and weaknesses.