Evolutionary Upstarts

Theoretical alternatives blossom in the garden of evolved minds

Little more than a decade ago, an evolution revolution turned the study of the mind on its head. It began with a small band of researchers challenging the traditional concept that culture and child rearing serve as prime shapers of people’s behavior. The renegade theorists instead touted a potent blend of evolutionary theory, genetics, and cognitive science for determining the underpinnings of conduct.