The Origin of Species: Darwin, History, Pathogens and Sex

Speaker: Chang Lei

Synopsis

“In the distant future I see open fields for far more important researches.  Psychology will be based on a new foundation, that of the necessary acquirement of each mental power and capacity by graduation.  LIght will be thrown on the origin of man and his history.” 

This is taken from the ending lines of Darwin’s Origin of Species published 150 years ago.  The past 30 years have seen increasing interdisciplinary efforts in applying Darwinian principles to understand human cognition and behavior.  I will talk about this new knowledge development and the related research on human nature and behavior that is rooted in natural selection and sexual selection theories.