PSYC1063-1 : Social ethology

Study Programmes 2016-2017

PSYC1063-1

Social ethology

Duration :

30h Th

Number of credits :

Master in anthropology (120 ECTS)		3
Master in biology of organisms and ecology (120 ECTS)		3
Master in psychology : general (120 ECTS)		3

Lecturer :

Fany Brotcorne, Pascal Poncin

Coordinator :

Pascal Poncin

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents :

History of the evolutionary theory in relation to social behaviour (socio-biology and socio-ecology). Mechanisms of sexual selection and social stuctures - Altruism, nepotism, parental investment, kin recognition, infanticide. Transmission of information - social learning - collective decision making within animal social groups. Social network analysis.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit :

Discuss the question of animal social behaviour in the context of evolution. Proceed to the critical examination of recent developments. Bibliographical synthesis and oral presentations

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

General ethology

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

A visit of the Prof. Brick's beehives will be organized during the second term (dates will be specified later).

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

8 sessions of 2 hrs of teaching class and and seminars (included: 2 interventions by Dr. Delcourt and Prof. Brick).
3-4 sessions of 2 hrs : theoretical lectures based on bibliographical syntheses, individual supervision of personnal synthesis and discussion on oral communication.