Applied Evolutionary Psychology

Human behaviour is marvellous in its complexity, variability and unpredictability. Understanding it, however, is not solely the role of psychologists: everyone has a vested interest in it, from individuals to organisations and industry. Recently, biologists and psychologists have had considerable success incorporating insights from evolutionary theory to help them understand some fundamental psychological issues, in a discipline now known as evolutionary psychology. However, to date, these useful insights have not been widely applied to tackle specific practical problems or issues in society. This innovative new book kick-starts this process. It provides a foundation for an incipient focus on applications of evolutionary research. It draws together a collection of renowned academics from a disparate set of fields, whose common interest lies in using evolutionary thinking to inform their research. Topics range from reviews of evolutionary perspectives on adult and family relationships, insights into business, economics and marketing, health and interactions with technology and the media, through to major global and societal issues such as promoting green behaviour, cooperation, and public health, and tackling crime, terrorism, and prejudice. No other book has focused as specifically and with such broad scope on the applications of modern evolutionary psychology. While the rapidly growing number of books on evolutionary psychology succeed in describing current theoretical thinking, illustrated and supported by empirical studies, this book uses this established basis as a backdrop and starting point for a more focused exploration of practical application. This groundbreaking book will be valuable for students and researchers in evolutionary and applied psychology, as well as biology and anthropology. Contributors to this volume - Dr Joshua Ackerman, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Professor Scott Atran, Research Center for Group Dynamics, University of Michigan, USA Dr Robert V Aunger, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Dr Pat Barclay, Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Canada Professor Rob Barton, Department of Anthropology, University of Durham, UK Professor David Bjorklund, Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, USA Professor Bram Buunk, Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands Dr Monica Capra, Department of Economics, Emory University Dr Val Curtis, The Hygiene Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK Walter De Back, Center for High Performance Computing Dresden University of Technology, Germany Dr Charlotte De Backer, Dept of Communication Studies, University of Ghent, Belgium Dr Dylan Evans, School of Medicine, University College Cork Prof Aurelio Figueredo, Department of Psychology, University of Arizona Professor Helen Fisher, Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, USA Professor David Geary, Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, USA Paul Robert Gladden, Department of Psychology, University of Arizona Professor Vladas Griskevicius, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, USA Prof Maria Grabe, Department of Telecommunications, University of Indiana, USA Dr Jan Havlicek, Department of Anthropology, Charles University, Prague Dr David Herring, School of Law, University of Pittsburgh Dr Russell Hill, Department of Anthropology, University of Durham, UK Zachary Hohman, Department of Psychology University of Arizona, USA Dr Wendy Iredale, Psychology Research Group Sheffield Hallam University, UK Professor Ned Kock, Division of International Business and Technology Studies, Texas A&M, USA Professor Bobbi Low, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, USA Professor Nigel Nicholson, Department of Organisational Behaviour, London Business School Dr Justin Park, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, UK Dr Michael Bang Petersen, Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, Denmark Professor Joe Redden, University of Minnesota, USA Dr S Craig Roberts, Department of Psychology University of Stirling, UK Professor Paul Rubin, Department of Economics, Emory University Patrick Douglas Sellers II, Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, USA Professor Alfonso Troisi, Department of Neurosciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata Professor Mark van Vugt, Faculty of Psychology & Education, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands Ms Diana Wiedemann, Department of Anthropology, University of Durham, UK Professor David Wiesenthal, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada