Biological foundations of behavior WPS-NPS-BPZ
The aim of the course is to present the biological foundations of human behavior in the light of current research in ethology, sociobiology, psychophysiology and evolutionary psychology, as well as behavioral genetics. The lecture focuses on explaining the biological sources of human nature and the functions of psychological mechanisms, understood as psychological adaptations, solving problems in the field of:
(1) survival (e.g. choice of food, preferences regarding a place of refuge, fighting predators and other threats);
(2) sexual life and reproduction (eg female and male strategies of choosing a partner for a lasting and fleeting relationship, attachment, jealousy of a sexual partner);
(3) parenting (eg, the importance of father and mother for the survival and development of offspring, the ability of children to transform parental care into reproductive success, conflict between parents and offspring);
(4) relationships (eg, Hamilton's law and its implications);
(5) group life (e.g. altruism and helpful behavior, aggression and war).
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Preliminary Requirements
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
PS_W04 - knows and understands the role of mental processes and the law
their development.
KNOWLEDGE:
- has knowledge (knows and understands) in the field of ethology, sociobiology, psychophysiology, evolutionary psychology and behavioral genetics, enabling him/her to explain the causes of human behaviour in the context of mental adaptations, understood as psychological mechanisms developed in the course of evolution (W1).
PS_WO7 - knows and understands the biological basis of behaviour and is able to recognize and interpret the biological mechanisms underlying mental processes.
ABILITIES:
- is able to objectively assess the cognitive and practical value of the biological basis of mental life (U1);
- recognizes the biological causes of both normal and pathological psychosocial phenomena (U2);
- knows and understands the genesis of biological processes underlying mental processes (U3)
- can use this knowledge to better explain the causes of human behavior (U4);
- is able to analyse and synthesize a scientific text, as well as present and discuss selected issues in the field of the theory of evolution, ethology, sociobiology, psychophysiology and behavioural genetics in the context of human behaviour (U5).
COMPETENCE:
- accepts the multifactorial basis of mental life and is aware of its importance (K1);
- sees the need for constant supplementation of knowledge in the field of biological basis of behavior (K2);
- is open to cooperation with specialists in other disciplines (K3);
- strives for a holistic understanding of mental life (K4).
Assessment criteria
The basic assessment method is an exam. Another important component of assessment is attendance and activity during classes.
Bibliography
Basic literature:
Buss D. M. (2001). Psychologia ewolucyjna. Gdańsk: GWP.
Dunbar, R. (2016). Człowiek. Biografia. Kraków: Copernicus Center Press.
Dzik, J. (2021). Ewolucja. Twórcza moc selekcji. Warszawa: Wydawnictwa UW.
Pawłowski, B. (2010). Biologia atrakcyjności człowieka. Warszawa: Wydawnictwa UW
Plomin, R. (2020). Matryca. Jak DNA programuje nasze życie. Kraków: Copernicus Center Press.
Supplementary literature:
Arzt V., Birmelin I. (2001). Takie jak my. Czy zwierzęta mają świadomość. Warszawa: Bertelsman Media Sp. Zoo.
Buss, D. M. (2014). Zazdrość. Niebezpieczna namiętność. Gdańsk: GWP.
De Catanzaro, D. A. (2003). Motywacje i emocje. Poznań: Zysk i S-ka.
De Waal, F. (2013). Małpy i filozofowie. Skąd pochodzi moralność. Copernicus Center Press.
Diamond, J. (2019). Trzeci szympans. Kraków: Copernicus Center Press.
Etcoff N. (2002). Przetrwają najpiękniejsi. Warszawa: Cis; WAB.
Everrett D. L. (2019). Jak powstał język. Historia największego wynalazku ludzkości. Warszawa: Prószyński i S-ka.
Fisher, H. (2016). Anatomia miłości. Nowe spojrzenie. Poznań: Rebis.
Gazzaniga, M. S. (2020). Instynkt świadomości. Jak z mózgu wyłania się umysł? Sopot: Smak słowa.
Goodall J. (2019). Przez dziurkę od klucza. Warszawa: Prószyński i S-ka.
Greszta, E., Jastrzębski, J., Izdebski, Z., Kowalska-Dąbrowska, M., Januszkiewicz, A. (2016). Attachment style, love components and sociosexual orientation of men and women in different types of heterosexual relationships. Polskie Forum Psychologiczne, 21(4), 490-513.
Hammer, D., Copeland, P. (2002). Geny a charakter. Warszawa: CiS.
Jastrzębski, J., Drążdżewska, A., Nazarowicz, M., Przybysz, N. (2016). Rodzaj doświadczanych emocji a zachowania wiążące w romantycznych związkach kobiet I mężczyzn w średniej dorosłości. Fides et Ratio, 28(4), 90-117.
Kalat, J. (2006). Biologiczne podstawy psychologii. Warszawa: PWN.
Łukasik, A., Marzec, M., Jastrzębski, J. (2015). Prekultura – kultura u zwierząt. Fides et Ratio, 24(4), s.145-156.
Marzec, M., Łukasik, A., Jastrzębski, J. (2014). Orientacja socjoseksualna a taktyki utrzymania partnera w związku długotrwały. Fides et Ratio, 20(4), 196-221.
Miller. G. (2004). Umysł w zalotach. Jak wybory seksualne kształtowały naturę człowieka. Poznań: Rebis;
Oniszczenko, W. (2002). Geny i środowisko a zachowanie. Warszawa: PWN.
Plomin, R, DeFries, J. C, McClearn, G. E., McGuffin, P. (2001). Genetyka zachowania. Warszawa: PWN.
Press.
Ridley M. (2000). Czerwona królowa. Poznań: Rebis;
Ridley, M. (2001). Genom. Poznań: Rebis
Ryan, F. (2017). Tajemniczy świat genomu ludzkiego. Warszawa: Prószyński i S-ka.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: