Open Space

This article is a personal response to the challenges presented by evolutionary psychology to psychodynamic ways of understanding ourselves and others. Evolutionary psychology has been called a ‘combination of evolutionary biology and cognitive psychology’ (Evans and Zarate 1999). It is the application of Darwinian theories of natural selection to human behaviour and development. Evolutionary psychology emphasizes two main principles. The Žrst is that the human mind of today was formed during our emergence as a separate species between (very roughly) 1 million and 50,000 years ago. Human behaviour, emotional responses, sexual and family relationships, social cohesion and cultural development are all to be explained in terms of the struggle to survive and procreate during that period. As Evans writes, ‘the greatest challenge for evolutionary psychology is to show exactly how a mind designed for life in the stone age is capable of such extraordinary achievements’ (Evans and Zarate 1999: 142). It is a challenge which has been taken up with enthusiasm and ingenuity. Second, evolutionary psychology emphasizes the dominant part played by genes in the evolution of all life, including human life. PSYCHODYNAMIC COUNSELLING 7.2 MAY 2001