Dr. Ronaldo Vigo

PSY 4810 served as a capstone course exploring human and nonhuman behavior through the lens of evolutionary psychology. The course examined how cognition, perception, emotions, social behavior, language, and problem-solving may have developed over time as adaptive responses to environmental and survival pressures. Drawing from cognitive, developmental, biological, and social psychology, the course emphasized understanding human behavior through both evolutionary theory and interdisciplinary psychological analysis.

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This capstone research paper explored the interaction between biological predispositions and cultural learning in shaping kinship-like behavior and social bonding. Drawing from evolutionary psychology, social psychology, and cultural theory, the paper examined how humans form close relational bonds beyond biological family structures while analyzing the challenges of separating learned behavior from evolved psychological systems.

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The project and course  strengthened my understanding of how biological, environmental, and cultural influences interact to shape human cognition, behavior, and social relationships. Through evolutionary analysis and interdisciplinary research, I developed stronger skills in academic writing, critical thinking, theory integration, and psychological analysis while gaining a deeper appreciation for the complexity of human behavior and social development.