Department of Anthropology

Penn State University

Jeffrey A. Kurland

Associate Professor of Biological Anthropology and Human Development

Faculty Image Office: 416 Carpenter Building
Telephone: (814) 865-9162 Fax: (814) 863-1474
Email:

jak@psu.edu

Curriculum Vitae
 

EDUCATION:

  • B.A., Cornell University, 1967
  • M.A., Harvard University, 1972
  • Ph.D., Harvard University, 1976

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS:

Dr. Kurland's research concentrates on the evolution of behavior and cognition.  Past research emphasized the social behavior of nonhuman primates and family relations among the Herero pastoralists of Botswana. Current research focuses on the evolution of human mental traits in particular deception and self-deception using the techniques of game theory.

COURSES TAUGHT:

  • ANTH 21 Introduction to Biological Anthropology
  • ANTH 040H Biocultural Evolution
  • ANTH 083S Freshman Seminar
  • ANTH/BIOL 464 Sociobiology
  • ANTH 563 Biological Journal Club
  • ANTH 564 Sociobiology and Behavior Ecology
  • ANTH 571 Principles of Human Population Biology

RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

  • Freund, M.T., and Kurland, J.A.. 1994. Tit-for-tat among the Iroquois: A game theoretic perspective on intertribal political organization. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 13:278-305.
  • Ludvico, L.R. and Kurland, J.A. 1995. Symbolic and not-so symbolic wounds: the behavioral ecology of human scarification. Ethology and Sociobiology 16:155-172.
  • Kurland, J.A. Altruism. 1996. In The Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology, edited by D. Levinson and M. Ember. Henry Hold and Company, New York.
  • Kurland, J.A., 1999.  Toward an evolution of mind: implications for the faithful? Zygon 34:67-92.
  • Byrne, C.C., and Kurland, J.A. 2001. Self-deception in an Evolutionary Game. J. theor. Biol 212, 457-480.
  • Cohen, J. & Kurland, J. A. 2003.  Thinking about change: biological and cultural change. In P.C. Rice & P.C. Salzman (eds.), Thinking Anthropologically: a Practical Guide for Students, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall pp. 49-58.
  • Kurland, J. A. & Gaulin, S. J. C. 2005.  Cooperation and competition among kin. In D. Buss (ed.), Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology, New York: Academic Press pp 447-482.