title: Evolutionary developmental psychology.
abstract: Evolutionary developmental psychology is the study of the genetic and ecological mechanisms that govern the development of social and cognitive competencies common to all human beings and the epigenetic (gene-environment interactions) processes that adapt these competencies to local conditions. The basic assumptions and domains of this emerging field, as related to human life history and social and cognitive development, are outlined, as are implications for issues of importance in contemporary society.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Missouri at Columbia, 65211-2500, USA. GearyD@Missouri.edu
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Geary
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Bjorklund
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012919:Social Behavior