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58 results in Biological psychology

Page 1 of 3

Evolutionary Psychology
  • An Introduction
  • 5th edition
  • Lance Workman, Will Reader
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    October 2025
    Print publication:
    30 September 2025
  • The fully revised fifth edition of this highly acclaimed undergraduate textbook provides a thought-provoking introduction to evolutionary psychology, while assuming no prior knowledge of evolutionary theory. The authors continue to carefully guide students towards a level of understanding where they can critically apply evolutionary theory to psychological explanation, providing an engaging and balanced discussion of the field. New material has been added on female homosexuality, artificial intelligence and language, cooking and human brain expansion, Covid-19 and rates of evolutionary change, and the effects of digital media on mental health. This edition also has new and revised boxed case studies, many new figures, extra discussion questions, and additional further reading suggestions. The text is accompanied by online resources including an updated test bank and lecture slides, as well as new answers to the end-of-chapter questions. This is essential reading for students taking undergraduate and graduate courses in evolutionary psychology.

Understanding the Nature‒Nurture Debate
  • Eric Turkheimer
  • Published online:
    07 November 2024
    Print publication:
    21 November 2024
  • There are arguably few areas of science more fiercely contested than the question of what makes us who we are. Are we products of our environments or our genes? Is nature the governing force behind our behaviour or is it nurture? While it is now widely agreed that it is a mixture of both, discussions continue as to which is the dominant influence. This unique volume presents a clear explanation of heritability, the ongoing nature versus nurture debate and the evidence that is currently available. Starting at the beginning of the modern nature-nurture debate, with Darwin and Galton, this book describes how evolution posed a challenge to humanity by demonstrating that humans are animals, and how modern social science was necessitated when humans became an object of natural science. It clearly sets out the most common misconceptions such as the idea that heritability means that a trait is 'genetic' or that it is a justification for eugenics.

Just Following Orders
  • Atrocities and the Brain Science of Obedience
  • Emilie A. Caspar
  • Published online:
    25 July 2024
    Print publication:
    25 July 2024
  • How can obedience and carrying out orders lead to horrific acts such as the Holocaust or the genocides in Rwanda, Cambodia, or Bosnia? For the most part, it is a mystery why obeying instructions from an authority can convince people to kill other human beings, sometimes without hesitation and with incredible cruelty. Combining social and cognitive neuroscience with real-life accounts from genocide perpetrators, this book sheds light on the process through which obedience influences cognition and behavior. Emilie Caspar, a leading expert in the field, translates this neuroscientific approach into a clear, uncomplicated explanation, even for those with no background in psychology or neuroscience. By better understanding humanity's propensity for direct orders to short-circuit our own independent decision-making, we can edge closer to effective prevention processes.

Pavlov's Legacy
  • How and What Animals Learn
  • Robert A. Boakes
  • Published online:
    07 October 2023
    Print publication:
    05 October 2023
  • Pavlov claimed that his experiments with dogs would transform the study of psychology and the treatment of mental illness. His work inspired researchers to study how animals learn to traverse mazes, avoid shocks, or press levers to obtain food, and also to compare the learning and cognitive abilities of different species, ranging from apes and dolphins to rats and pigeons. This book describes five decades of research into animal learning and comparative psychology, examining Pavlov's influence on this research and discoveries made by scientists who accepted many of his claims, while others looked for evidence to reject them. Drawing together diverse strands of research and providing historical and biographical information to bring the details to life, this is an ideal resource for graduate students and researchers in behavioural neuroscience, as well as for anyone in adjacent fields with an interest in learning theory.

Just as Deadly
  • The Psychology of Female Serial Killers
  • Marissa A. Harrison
  • Published online:
    06 January 2023
    Print publication:
    09 February 2023
  • You've heard of Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy. But have you heard of Amy Archer-Gilligan? Or Belle Gunness? Or Nannie Doss? Women have committed some of the most disturbing serial killings ever seen in the United States. Yet scientific inquiry, criminal profiling, and public interest have focused more on their better-known male counterparts. As a result, female serial killers have been misunderstood, overlooked, and underestimated. In this riveting account, Dr. Marissa A. Harrison draws on original scientific research, various psychological perspectives, and richly detailed case studies to illuminate the stark differences between female and male serial killers' backgrounds, motives, and crimes. She also emphasizes the countless victims of this grisly phenomenon to capture the complexity and tragedy of serial murder. Meticulously weaving data-based evidence and insight with intimate storytelling, Just as Deadly reveals how and why these women murder—and why they often get away with it.

Evolutionary Psychiatry
  • Current Perspectives on Evolution and Mental Health
  • Edited by Riadh Abed, Paul St John-Smith
  • Published online:
    08 September 2022
    Print publication:
    29 September 2022
  • Evolutionary psychiatry attempts to explain and examine the development and prevalence of psychiatric disorders through the lens of evolutionary and adaptationist theories. In this edited volume, leading international evolutionary scholars present a variety of Darwinian perspectives that will encourage readers to consider 'why' as well as 'how' mental disorders arise. Using insights from comparative animal evolution, ethology, anthropology, culture, philosophy and other humanities, evolutionary thinking helps us to re-evaluate psychiatric epidemiology, genetics, biochemistry and psychology. It seeks explanations for persistent heritable traits shaped by selection and other evolutionary processes, and reviews traits and disorders using phylogenetic history and insights from the neurosciences as well as the effects of the modern environment. By bridging the gap between social and biological approaches to psychiatry, and encouraging bringing the evolutionary perspective into mainstream psychiatry, this book will help to inspire new avenues of research into the causation and treatment of mental disorders.

The Cambridge Handbook of Evolutionary Perspectives on Sexual Psychology
  • Volume 2, Male Sexual Adaptations
  • Edited by Todd K. Shackelford
  • Published online:
    30 June 2022
    Print publication:
    21 July 2022
  • The interface of sexual behavior and evolutionary psychology is a rapidly growing domain, rich in psychological theories and data as well as controversies and applications. With nearly eighty chapters by leading researchers from around the world, and combining theoretical and empirical perspectives, The Cambridge Handbook of Evolutionary Perspectives on Sexual Psychology is the most comprehensive and up-to-date reference work in the field. Providing a broad yet in-depth overview of the various evolutionary principles that influence all types of sexual behaviors, the handbook takes an inclusive approach that draws on a number of disciplines and covers nonhuman and human psychology. It is an essential resource for both established researchers and students in psychology, biology, anthropology, medicine, and criminology, among other fields. Volume 2: Male Sexual Adaptations addresses theory and research focused on sexual adaptations in human males.

The Cambridge Handbook of Evolutionary Perspectives on Sexual Psychology
  • Volume 3, Female Sexual Adaptations
  • Edited by Todd K. Shackelford
  • Published online:
    30 June 2022
    Print publication:
    21 July 2022
  • The interface of sexual behavior and evolutionary psychology is a rapidly growing domain, rich in psychological theories and data as well as controversies and applications. With nearly eighty chapters by leading researchers from around the world, and combining theoretical and empirical perspectives, The Cambridge Handbook of Evolutionary Perspectives on Sexual Psychology is the most comprehensive and up-to-date reference work in the field. Providing a broad yet in-depth overview of the various evolutionary principles that influence all types of sexual behaviors, the handbook takes an inclusive approach that draws on a number of disciplines and covers nonhuman and human psychology. It is an essential resource for both established researchers and students in psychology, biology, anthropology, medicine, and criminology, among other fields. Volume 3: Female Sexual Adaptations addresses theory and research focused on sexual adaptations in human females.

The Cambridge Handbook of Evolutionary Perspectives on Sexual Psychology
  • Volume 4, Controversies, Applications, and Nonhuman Primate Extensions
  • Edited by Todd K. Shackelford
  • Published online:
    30 June 2022
    Print publication:
    21 July 2022
  • The interface of sexual behavior and evolutionary psychology is a rapidly growing domain, rich in psychological theories and data as well as controversies and applications. With nearly eighty chapters by leading researchers from around the world, and combining theoretical and empirical perspectives, The Cambridge Handbook of Evolutionary Perspectives on Sexual Psychology is the most comprehensive and up-to-date reference work in the field. Providing a broad yet in-depth overview of the various evolutionary principles that influence all types of sexual behaviors, the handbook takes an inclusive approach that draws on a number of disciplines and covers nonhuman and human psychology. It is an essential resource for both established researchers and students in psychology, biology, anthropology, medicine, and criminology, among other fields. Volume 4: Controversies, Applications, and Nonhuman Primate Extensions addresses controversies and unresolved issues; applications to health, law, and pornography; and non-human primate evolved sexual psychology.

The Cambridge Handbook of Evolutionary Perspectives on Sexual Psychology
  • Volume 1, Foundations
  • Edited by Todd K. Shackelford
  • Published online:
    30 June 2022
    Print publication:
    21 July 2022
  • The interface of sexual behavior and evolutionary psychology is a rapidly growing domain, rich in psychological theories and data as well as controversies and applications. With nearly eighty chapters by leading researchers from around the world, and combining theoretical and empirical perspectives, The Cambridge Handbook of Evolutionary Perspectives on Sexual Psychology is the most comprehensive and up-to-date reference work in the field. Providing a broad yet in-depth overview of the various evolutionary principles that influence all types of sexual behaviors, the handbook takes an inclusive approach that draws on a number of disciplines and covers nonhuman and human psychology. It is an essential resource for both established researchers and students in psychology, biology, anthropology, medicine, and criminology, among other fields. Volume 1: Foundations of Evolutionary Perspectives on Sexual Psychology addresses foundational theories and methodological approaches.

Can Themba
  • The Making and Breaking of the Intellectual Tsotsi, a Biography
  • Siphiwo Mahala
  • Published by:
    Wits University Press
    Published online:
    26 May 2022
    Print publication:
    30 March 2022
  • Mahala's biography views the life and writing of Can Themba (1924-1967), an iconic figure of the South African literary world and Drum journalist who died in exile.

Principles of Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Jon C. Horvitz, Barry L. Jacobs
  • Published online:
    19 April 2022
    Print publication:
    07 July 2022
  • How does brain activity give rise to sleep, dreams, learning, memory, and language? Do drugs like cocaine and heroin tap into the same neurochemical systems that evolved for life's natural rewards? What are the powerful new tools of molecular biology that are revolutionizing neuroscience? This undergraduate textbook explores the relation between brain, mind, and behavior. It clears away the extraneous detail that so often impedes learning, and describes critical concepts step by step, in straightforward language. Rich illustrations and thought-provoking review questions further illuminate the relations between biological, behavioral, and mental phenomena. With writing that is focused and engaging, even the more challenging topics of neurotransmission and neuroplasticity become enjoyable to learn. While this textbook filters out non-critical details, it includes all key information, allowing readers to remain focused and enjoy the feeling of mastery that comes from a grounded understanding of a topic, from its fundamentals to its implications.

Much Like Us
  • What Science Reveals about the Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviour of Animals
  • Norbert Sachser
  • Translated by Ruby Bilger
  • Published online:
    07 April 2022
    Print publication:
    05 May 2022
  • What really differentiates us from our relatives in the animal world? And what can they teach us about ourselves? Taking these questions as his starting point, Norbert Sachser presents fascinating insights into the inner lives of animals, revealing what we now know about their thoughts, feelings and behaviour. By turns surprising, humourous and thought-provoking, Much Like Us invites us on a journey around the animal kingdom, explaining along the way how dogs demonstrate empathy, why chimpanzees wage war and how crows and ravens craft tools to catch food. Sachser brings the science to life with examples and anecdotes drawn from his own research, illuminating the vast strides in understanding that have been made over the last 30 years. He ultimately invites us to challenge our own preconceptions – the closer we look, the more we see the humanity in our fellow creatures.

Foundations of Behavior Genetics
  • Scott F. Stoltenberg
  • Published online:
    31 March 2022
    Print publication:
    07 July 2022
  • Foundations of Behavior Genetics provides a forward-looking introduction to this fascinating field. Written by an experienced teacher and researcher, this text focuses on concepts, methods, and findings that inform our understanding of heredity–behavior relations. The book's neuroscience perspective asks students to think about potential neural mechanisms involved in pathways from genes to behavior. While the text is primarily focused on human behavior genetics, it also emphasizes the importance of non-human animal models in experimental studies, as well as their evolutionary connections to humans. Part I covers the history of behavior genetics and the basics of non-molecular genetics; Part II discusses molecular genetics and neurogenetics; Part III addresses various behavioral disorders; and Part IV explores health, social behavior, and ethical implications. The text includes detailed chapter summaries, several “Check-up” questions after major sections that test student understanding, and recommended readings. Instructors are provided with a test bank of multiple-choice items and hi-res JPEGs of the many illustrations created for the book.

The Neurobiology of Trust
  • Edited by Frank Krueger
  • Published online:
    09 December 2021
    Print publication:
    16 December 2021
  • Trust is essential for establishing and maintaining cooperative behaviors between individuals and institutions in a wide variety of social, economic, and political contexts. This book explores trust through the lens of neurobiology, focusing on empirical, methodological, and theoretical aspects. Written by a distinguished group of researchers from economics, psychology, human factors, neuroscience, and psychiatry, the chapters shed light on the neurobiological underpinnings of trust as applied in a variety of domains. Researchers and students will discover a refined understanding of trust by delving into the essential topics in this area of study outlined by leading experts.

Thirst and Body Fluid Regulation
  • From Nephron to Neuron
  • Neil E. Rowland
  • Published online:
    09 December 2021
    Print publication:
    16 December 2021
  • Body fluid regulation is pivotal to human health and is served by extensive clinical and pre-clinical science. By combining modern advances with previous findings in the field, this book presents a comprehensive treatment of major experiments, theories, and new advances in the field of body fluid regulation, thirst, and drinking. It features the main integrative brain mechanisms for fluid regulation, the development of such systems, fluid balance during heat and exercise, aging and clinical disorders, and comparative aspects of fluid regulation. The volume focuses on mammalian thirst or drinking behaviour alongside relevant aspects of the physiology of fluid balance. The principal fluid compartments and their regulation by both intakes and losses are highlighted, using both human and animal studies to illustrate the main concepts.

As If By Design
  • How Creative Behaviors Really Evolve
  • Edward A. Wasserman
  • Published online:
    01 July 2021
    Print publication:
    22 July 2021
  • The eureka moment is a myth. It is an altogether naïve and fanciful account of human progress. Innovations emerge from a much less mysterious combination of historical, circumstantial, and accidental influences. This book explores the origin and evolution of several important behavioral innovations including the high five, the Heimlich maneuver, the butterfly stroke, the moonwalk, and the Iowa caucus. Such creations' striking suitability to the situation and the moment appear ingeniously designed with foresight. However, more often than not, they actually arise 'as if by design.' Based on investigations into the histories of a wide range of innovations, Edward A. Wasserman reveals the nature of behavioral creativity. What surfaces is a fascinating web of causation involving three main factors: context, consequence, and coincidence. Focusing on the process rather than the product of innovation elevates behavior to the very center of the creative human endeavor.

Why Me?
  • The Sociocultural Evolution of a Self-Reflective Mind
  • Radu J. Bogdan
  • Published online:
    28 May 2021
    Print publication:
    10 June 2021
  • This book explores the evolution of the mental competence for self-reflection: why it evolved, under what selection pressures, in what environments, out of what precursors, and with what mental resources. Integrating evolutionary, psychological, and philosophical perspectives, Radu J. Bogdan argues that the competence for self-reflection, uniquely human and initially autobiographical, evolved under strong and persistent sociocultural and political (collaborative and competitive) pressures on the developing minds of older children and later adults. Self-reflection originated in a basic propensity of the human brain to rehearse anticipatively mental states, speech acts, actions, and states of the world in order to service one's elaborate goal policies. These goal policies integrate offline representations of one's own mental states and actions and those of others in order to handle the challenges of a complex and dynamic sociopolitical and sociocultural life, calling for an adaptive intramental self-regulation: that intramental adaptation is self-reflection.

Measuring Behaviour
  • An Introductory Guide
  • 4th edition
  • Melissa Bateson, Paul Martin
  • Published online:
    07 May 2021
    Print publication:
    06 May 2021
  • Measuring Behaviour is the established go-to text for anyone interested in scientific methods for studying the behaviour of animals or humans. It is widely used by students, teachers and researchers in a variety of fields, including biology, psychology, the social sciences and medicine. This new fourth edition has been completely rewritten and reorganised to reflect major developments in how behavioural studies are conducted. It includes new sections on the replication crisis, covering Open Science initiatives such as preregistration, as well as fully up-to-date information on the use of remote sensors, big data and artificial intelligence in capturing and analysing behaviour. The sections on the analysis and interpretation of data have been rewritten to align with current practices, with advice on avoiding common pitfalls. Although fully revised and revamped, this new edition retains the simplicity, clarity and conciseness that have made Measuring Behaviour a classic since the first edition appeared more than 30 years ago.

Evolutionary Psychology
  • An Introduction
  • 4th edition
  • Lance Workman, Will Reader
  • Published online:
    30 April 2021
    Print publication:
    20 May 2021
  • While evolutionary psychology is a fascinating science, it is also often misunderstood. In this highly acclaimed undergraduate textbook, Workman and Reader assume no prior knowledge of evolution and instead carefully guide students towards a level of understanding where they can critically apply evolutionary theory to psychological explanation. The authors provide an engaging and balanced discussion of evolutionary psychology without committing to a specific school of thought, and organise chapters around topics familiar to psychology students. Retaining the successful structure and pedagogy of previous editions, the text has been updated to include the latest advances in the field, with new material added on homosexuality, a consideration of feminist criticism, grandparental investment, and developments in neuroscience and epigenetics. The fourth edition is now in full colour, with new figures and photographs, revised boxed case studies, additional discussion questions, and an updated online test bank.

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