What binds human and non-human societies together, and what pulls them apart, over the short (historical) and long (evolutionary) terms' This course draws on approaches from the natural and social sciences to address this question. Students will study the biology of social behavior and the puzzle of how cooperation can evolve even though most animals are selfish; employ game theory to predict when individuals, groups, and nations should cooperate and when they should not; and apply insights from sociology and psychology to contemporary social issues including partisanship and environmentalism. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Social Inquiry I.

Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the MyBU Student Portal for the most up-to-date course information.