Dr Satoshi Kanazawa NAB5.33

This course is available on the MSc in Management and Strategy. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Principles of evolutionary psychology. The nature and limitations of the human brain as an evolved and adapted organ. Evolutionary origins of cognitive biases, and their effects on organisational behaviour. Sex differences in organisational behaviour. The importance of physical attractiveness and general intelligence in organisational behaviour. "Discrimination" in labour market. Evolutionary psychological perspectives on cooperation, reciprocity, altruism, hierarchy, and leadership in modern corporations. Evolutionary origins of organisationally relevant emotions such as envy, spite, and positional bias. This course introduces the evolutionary psychological perspective on business and management. The emerging science of evolutionary psychology sheds entirely new light on, and offers different solutions to, old problems of management, such as glass ceiling, occupational sex segregation, sexual harassment and suboptimal decision making, and points to new potential problems.

20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the MT.

Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6, in line with departmental policy

One class presentation and one essay based on the class presentation.

Browne, Kingsley R. 2002. Biology at Work: Rethinking Sexual Equality, New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press; Kanazawa, Satoshi. 2012. The Intelligence Paradox: Why the Intelligent Choice Isn't Always the Smart One. Pinker, Susan. 2008. The Sexual Paradox: Troubled Boys, Gifted Girls and the Real Difference Between the Sexes.

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.