Human Evolution: An Introduction for the Behavioural Sciences

by Graham Richards

Originally published in 1987, Human Evolution looks at theories of the evolution of human behaviour (contemporary at the time of publication). The book reviews competing theories of psychological and social evolution and provides a detailed historical introduction to the subject. A key theoretical concern which emerges in the book includes the psychological significance of the human evolution issue itself. The period of human evolution covered ranges from the demise of the Miocene hominoids, to the emergence of ‘civilization’. Topics covered functions of ‘origin myths’, history of the study of human evolution, methods and data-bases, theories of the nature of ‘hominisation’, origins of bipedalism, language and tool-use, theories of social evolution, theories of cave art and the spread of Homo sapiens to America and Australia.

605 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Graham Richards is now retired from full-time academic work but is associated with the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, University College London. Graham does research in Social and Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Social Psychology. London. He is not currently active engaged in research. His past work has mainly been in the field of History of Psychology and to a lesser extent Human Evolution and Philosophical Psychology. His history work has addressed, in particular, race/racism and religion in relation to Psychology as well as British psychology and more general works.