Deconstructing Shadows: Human behaviour through the prism of evolution

This project involves an in-depth analysis of human behaviour from an evolutionary perspective, as a basis for integrating our modern understanding of behavioural psychology with its neurobiological basis. From my studies to date, I believe that this perspective may provide a sounder and more intuitive basis for better understanding the complex subject of human thought and actions in a multitude of critical social circumstances. I hope to interact with scholars with an interest in the fields of social behaviour including political thought, sociology, and historiography. Questions that most interest me include: To what extent do the bio-evolutionary constraints on human thought and behaviour influence our socio-political attitudes, and how is this expressed in real life? Is rationality a significant feature of human thought when it is really needed? Can the primary “default” response patterns of human thought and behaviour be effectively influenced?