evolutionary psychology

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of evolutionary psychology¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Over time, for instance, the pseudo-science of "evolutionary psychology" started to collapse, as real scientists educated journalists and the larger public about why it's demonstrable nonsense.

From Salon

Shoddy "evolutionary psychology" claims were put forward, positing that women evolved to be so focused on nurturing that their brains had no resources left for higher-level reasoning.

From Salon

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

According to a 2015 study published in “Evolutionary Psychology,” which replicated a 2006 study, men seem to want women who will laugh at their jokes and women want men who will make them laugh.

From Los Angeles Times

In a 2015 Current Biology paper entitled “The What as well as the Why of Animal Fun,”Richard Byrne, a professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of St. Andrews, wrote that in the past, “suggesting that animals might enjoy themselves was seen as anathema to science.”

From Scientific American