Journal of East China Normal University(Educationa ›› 2011, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (2): 62-69.

• Psychology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

On Steven Pinker’s Perspectives on Culture Psychology from an Evolutionary Viewpoint

LI Hai-Yan   

  1. School of Foreign languages, East China University of Political Science and Law, shanghuai  201620
  • Online:2011-06-20 Published:2011-07-27
  • Contact: LI Hai-Yan
  • About author: LI Hai-Yan

Abstract: Steven Pinker’s application of the evolved psychological mechanism to the culture psychology study can be elaborated in three aspects: the determination of adaptations and by-products in the cultural facts ranging from fiction, arts to music,and its studying goal of explaining the human taste for cultural facts, as well as his suggestions on the study of culture psychology from an evolutionary viewpoint. The paper argues that Steven Pinker’s perspectives on culture psychology challenge the display hypothesis and the traditional culture psychology, broaden its study area of culture psychology, while, more practice should be made to validate his suggestions on the study of culture psychology.

Key words: Steven Pinker, Evolutionary Psychology, Culture Psychology, Adaptation, By-product