Evolutionary psychology is an important perspective in modern psychology that is focused on the study of how evolution can explain physiological processes. This is a relatively recent perspective to emerge in psychology and is based on a renewed interested in the work of naturalist Charles Darwin. His first book on the subject, On the Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection, was first published in 1859.
Psychologists and researchers take the basic principles of evolution, including natural selection, and apply them to psychological phenomena. This perspective suggests that these mental processes exist because they serve an evolutionary purpose - they aid in survival and reproduction.
Learn more about the evolutionary process in the following resources:
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I’ve always been interested in the evolution of dreams — why did we and other animals develop the ability? Not much research that I can find in this area.