Beyond Evolutionary Psychology: How and Why Neuropsychological Modules Arise (Culture and Psychology)

Synopsis

The Nature/nurture Question Is An Age-old Problem. 'beyond Evolutionary Psychology' Deals With The Relation Between Culture, Evolution, Psychology And Emotion, Based Both In The Underlying Biology, Determined By Our Evolutionary Heritage, And In The Interaction Of Our Brain With The Physical, Ecological And Social Environment, Based In The Key Property Of Brain Plasticity. Ellis And Solms Show How The Brain Structures That Underlie Cognition And Behaviour Relate To Each Other Through Developmental Processes Guided By Primary Emotional Systems. This Makes Very Clear Which Brain Modules Are Innate Or 'hard-wired', And Which Are 'soft-wired' Or Determined Through Environmental Interactions. The Key Finding Is That There Can Be No Innate Cognitive Modules In The Neocortex, As This Is Not Possible On Both Developmental And Genetic Grounds; In Particular There Can Be No Innate Language Acquisition Device. This Is Essential Reading For Students And Scholars Of Evolutionary Psychology And Evolutionary Biology. The Mind And The Brain -- Hierarchy, Modularity, And Development -- Claims Of Innate Modularity -- The Mind And Emotions -- A Realistic View Of Evolution, Development, And Emotions. George Ellis, Mark Solms. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 178-194) And Index.