Evolutionary Psychology: A New Paradigm for Psychological Science

TLDR

Psychological science is in conceptual disarray, lacking a unifying theory of the mind’s functional properties, and evolutionary psychology offers conceptual tools to move beyond this fragmented state. The article outlines the fundamental premises of evolutionary psychology and demonstrates its application to domains such as reasoning, social exchange, language, aggression, jealousy, sex, and status. The author illustrates how evolutionary psychology can be applied to these domains and considers its implications for key branches of psychology, suggesting ways to transcend disciplinary boundaries. The author concludes by observing the emergence of evolutionary psychology as the field matures into the 21st century.

Abstract

Abstract Psychological science is currently in conceptual disarray, characterized by unconnected mini-theories and isolated empirical findings. We lack a theory of the functional properties of the human mind that could provide the needed integration—a theory about what the mechanisms of mind are "designed" to do. Evolutionary psychology provides the conceptual tools for emerging from this fragmented state. In this target article, I outline the fundamental premises of evolutionary psychology; illustrate the application of evolutionary psychology to domains such as reasoning, social exchange, language, aggression, jealousy, sex, and status; and then consider the implications of evolutionary psychology for the key branches of social, personality, developmental, and cognitive psychology and suggest ways in which these disciplinary boundaries can be transcended. I conclude by looking at the emergence of evolutionary psychology as our field matures into the 21st century.