This stimulating volume assembles leading scholars to address issues in children’s cognitive, academic, and social development through the lens of evolutionary psychology.Debates and controversies in the field highlight the potential value of this understanding, from basic early learning skills through emerging social relationships in adolescence, with implications for academic outcomes, curriculum development, and education policy.Children’s evolved tendency toward play and exploration fuels an extended discussion on child- versus adult-directed learning, evolutionary bases are examined for young learners’ moral development, and contemporary theories of learning and memory are viewed from an evolutionary perspective.Along the way, contributors’ recommendations illustrate real-world uses of evolution-based learning interventions during key developmental years.
Among the topics covered:
This stimulating volume assembles leading scholars to address issues in children’s cognitive, academic, and social development through the lens of evolutionary psychology.Debates and controversies in the field highlight the potential value of this understanding, from basic early learning skills through emerging social relationships in adolescence, with implications for academic outcomes, curriculum development, and education policy.Children’s evolved tendency toward play and exploration fuels an extended discussion on child- versus adult-directed learning, evolutionary bases are examined for young learners’ moral development, and contemporary theories of learning and memory are viewed from an evolutionary perspective.Along the way, contributors’ recommendations illustrate real-world uses of evolution-based learning interventions during key developmental years.
Among the topics covered:
Evolutionary Perspectives on Child Development and Education will interest researchers and graduate students working in diverse areas such as evolutionary psychology, cultural anthropology, human ecology, developmental psychology, and educational psychology. Researchers in applied developmental science and early education will also find it useful.
David C. Geary
at-risk youth cognitive immaturity evolutionary development evolutionary educational psychology evolutionary perspectives on child development evolutionary perspectives on education evolutionary perspectives on teaching instructional design learning and memory systems perspectives on education and child development social and moral development
“In their new book, Evolutionary Perspectives on Child Development and Education, editors David Geary and Daniel Berch have compiled chapters that offer ideas on ‘how an evolutional approach can enhance educational outcomes and inform educational policies’ … . Researchers and graduate students interested in improving education should find this book challenging, valuable, and thought-provoking.” (Patricia T. Ashton, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 61 (51), December, 2016)