Description:

This course is designed to explore the psychology of human mating. Many facets of mating are covered, from the initial desires that men and women use when selecting mates to the tactics they use to attract mates, to retain mates, and to get rid of mates. Included in the course will be coverage of short-term and long-term mating, as well as the ways in which men and women come into conflict over mating issues. The course will cover mating from several broad perspectives, including an examination of mating across cultures, across the lifespan, and from an evolutionary perspective. Evolutionary psychology and sexual selection theory will provide the overarching theoretical frameworks for the course, although alternative theoretical frameworks will be considered as well.

Texts:

Buss, D.M. The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating. 1995

Grading and Requirements:

Exams: 3, with short answer, multiple choice, and essay questions - 25% each
Term paper: 25%.

Prerequisites:

Psychology 301 with a grade of C or better, Psychology 418 or an equivalent statistics course with a grade of C or better, and upper division standing.

Updated 16 June 1998
Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
University of Texas at Austin

Some graphics courtesy of Ann Pommerehn