ABSTRACT
Having examined a number of subfields of psychology, where evolutionary theory has made an impact, from developmental, cognitive and social to individual and cultural differences, it is clear that evolutionary psychology has its fair share of critics. In fact as science writer Robert Wright has put it, there appears to be an “anti-ev-psych market niche.” Many of these criticisms are related to misunderstandings of what evolutionary psychology entails. In this final chapter we consider the criticisms (whether misunderstandings or potentially valid) that have been leveled at evolutionary psychology and examine current debates within the fraternity. Such criticisms, misunderstandings and debates include sexism, sex differences in mate choice behavior, the notion of the survival of the species, genetic determinism, and the argument that evolution is no longer important to our species since we have developed culture. As is apparent these themes largely arise out of areas of academic interest that we have presented in various preceding chapters.
