evolutionary psychology

American  

noun

1. the branch of psychology that studies the mental adaptations of humans to a changing environment, especially differences in behavior, cognition, and brain structure.

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Etymology

Origin of evolutionary psychology

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Since the dawn of his career, Eastwick has had more than one bone to pick with evolutionary psychology.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

He has tended to accept the premises of evolutionary psychology in ways that religious people typically do not.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

University of South Africa psychologist Dr. Monika dos Santos turns to evolutionary psychology for an explanation on humanity’s difficulty grasping the magnitude of the problem.

From Salon • Dec. 6, 2024

Another is megapundit Robert Wright, an old friend, with whom I’ve often argued about evolutionary psychology and Buddhism.

From Scientific American • Aug. 14, 2021

The flourishing field of evolutionary psychology argues that many of our present-day social and psychological characteristics were shaped during this long pre-agricultural era.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari