Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind

Where did we come from?

What is our connection with other life forms?

What are the mechanisms of mind that define what it means to be a human being?

In the seventh edition of this revolutionary textbook, David M. Buss examines human behavior from an evolutionary perspective, providing students with the conceptual tools needed to study evolutionary psychology and apply them to empirical research on the human mind. Content is organised by topic, beginning with the challenges of survival, mating, parenting, and kinship; progressing to challenges of group living, including cooperation, aggression, sexual conflict and status, prestige, and social hierarchies.

Key features of this edition include:

• Updated and enhanced material based on an explosion of new theories and research, including dozens of new references
• Expanded coverage of topics including socioecology, behavior, emotions, and gender
• Exploration of evolutionary mismatches in several domains such as survival, kinship, and mating, including a discussion of internet dating

With a wealth of student-friendly pedagogy including critical thinking questions and case study boxes supporting the application of evolutionary psychology to real-world situations, this is an invaluable resource for undergraduates studying psychology, biology, and anthropology. The textbook is also supported by a range of instructor resources, including PowerPoint slides, a test bank, and an instructor’s manual, to help students achieve their higher learning goals.

David M. Buss received his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. He held professorships at Harvard University and the University of Michigan before accepting his current position as professor of psychology at the University of Texas. His primary research interests include human sexuality, mating strategies, conflict between the sexes, homicide, stalking, and sexual victimization. The author of more than 300 scientific articles and seven books, Buss has won numerous awards. Among them are the American Psychological Association (APA) Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology, the APA G. Stanley Hall Lectureship, the APA Distinguished Scientist Lecturer Award, the Association for Psychological Science (APS) Mentor Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Lifetime Career Award from the Human Behavior and Evolution Society, and a Robert W. Hamilton Book Award for the first edition of Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind. He is also the editor of the first comprehensive Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology (Wiley), co-editor (with Patricia Hawley) of The Evolution of Personality and Individual Differences, and most recently the editor of The Oxford Handbook of Human Mating. In 2023, he was named one of the 50 most influential living psychologists in the world. He enjoys extensive cross-cultural research collaborations and lectures widely within the United States and abroad. His hobbies include tennis and disc golf, and he is an avid film buff.