Jan 12, 2016
Evolution and Human Behavior Grades: 9-12C.Batterman
Theories• There are 6 perspectives about the evolution
of human behavior• These theories are– Sociobiology– Human Behavioral Ecology (HBE)– Evolutionary Psychology (EP)– Dual Inheritance Theory (DIT)– Biocultural Approaches– Modern Approaches
Sociobiology• Established in 1975 with E.O. Wilson’s
“Sociobiology”• Catalyst model of human evolution• Big game hunting sped up the process of
human evolution• Males became hunter-gatherers and females
remained at home with chores and children• Over simplicity is a problem with this model
Human Behavioral Ecology (HBE)
• Focuses on how ecological and social focuses effect human behavior
• “What ecological forces select for, or favor, a specific behavior?”
• Applies basic principles of natural selection to behavior patterns
• Identifies behavioral restraints• Sees humans as possessing a strong ability to
weigh costs and benefits
Evolutionary Psychology (EP)
• The goal is to understand the psychology that leads humans to their specific behaviors
• Culture in the mind evolves to resolve the challenges of natural selection
• Focuses on the “environment of evolutionary adaptiveness” (EEA)
Dual-Inheritance Theory (DIT)
• More rooted in Anthropology• 5 basic assumptions about dual-inheritance
theory• See culture as an evolving pool of ideas,
beliefs, values and knowledge • Cultural variants can be seen as acting in the
same way as alleles and genes
Biocultural Approaches • Emerged as a synthesis of human biology and
biocultural anthropology• Promoting ways of understanding the
relationship of biology with culture, primarily with health concerns within and between populations
• See health across populations being shaped by genetic inheritance and environmental challenges over time
Modern Approach• Human behavior is resulting from 2 or more humans
actions, experience and innovation• Niche construction is a core factor in biological evolution• Ecological and social inheritance is central to human
behavior and its change• Enhanced communication and information transfer are
central to understanding human behavior• Humans construct responses to selection during their lives• Researches should consider the potential impacts of a
diverse et of biological and social or cultural processes
Important to RememberEvolution does not have a goal or
endpointOrganisms are continually evolving