Universalism and Animal Culture

General Psychology

Human vs. Animal Culture1Culture in Animals

There is considerable evidence that animal behavior is passed on from one generation to the next. For example, elephants that have a history of being poached tend to be particularly aggressive toward people. Other evidence suggests that animals can maintain distinct dialects. But these examples are not great examples of culture. Certainly, they are not very sophisticated.2Cultural Learning in AnimalsTool use in primatesTwig-fishers vs. bark-fishershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyt0CIIL_Mg

Evidence of more advanced culture can only be found in primates. Tool use is one example of culture that is passed on from generation to generation. For example, some groups of chimpanzees fish for termites using twigs a method they learned from watching their ancestors. Other groups using a bark-fishing method. Each new generation looks to their ancestors to figure out how to get termites. Capuchin monkeys have a similar history with eating pine nuts.3

Chimpanzees in particular seem to develop more complex cultures. There are a few different species of chimpanzee and one, the bonobo, stands out. Chimpanzees are most often very violent animals. Bonobos, in contrast, tend to very peaceful. Are these differences just a fluke of biology? Or are they due to culture?4Complex Chimp Culture

The bonobo is uniquely situated compared to other chimpanzees it does not have any natural predators or rivals such as humans or gorillas. They are isolated from other large apes by the Zaire river.Over time, chimpanzee culture rewarded aggression while bonobo culture rewarded peace. Chimps who were too passive were beaten or killed while bonobos who were too aggressive were excluded from their orgies. Each species has clearly defined social systems that produce very different behavior yet they are nearly identical genetically.5Human vs. animalWithout argumentHuman cultures are MUCH more complexHuman cultures are MUCH more symbolicHumans are MUCH better learnersHumans are MUCH better teachers

6Language

At best, a few hundred words.7Language

About 10,000 wordsAbout 20,000 wordsHuman language also has complex grammar and syntax8Roth, G. ch 2 in Brne, M., Ribbert, H., & Schiefenhvel, W. (2003). The social brain: Evolution and Pathology. Chichester: Wiley.

9Increases in brain size during evolution

ardipithecus

brain size: 300 ccs Australopithe-cus

brain size: 310-530 ccs homo habilis

brain size: 580-752 ccshomo erectus

brain size: 775-1225 ccsNeandertal

brain size: 1200-1450 ccsmodern human

brain size: 1350 ccs

10Social Brain HypothesisComplex social worlds led to a need for successful navigation of complex relationships.More socially adept primates attracted more mates, accrued more resources, and protected offspring better.

11Humans Are Especially SocialHumans vs other primates:largest groupsmore interested in each others activitiesmore cultural learning

Human brains may thus have developed greater social learning and communication abilities than other ape species

12Magic Number 150Based on human neocortex ratioHuman ancestral population were ~150.Humans can keep track of approximately 150 relations.Most clans and small communities have average size of 150

13Universalism14Universal or Variable?Does a behavior occur across cultures (universal) or not (variable)?Depends on the definition you use!Abstract definitions support universalityE.g. marriage = people partnering to form a family unitConcrete definitions support variabilityE.g. marriage = man and woman falling in love and agreeing to spend their lives with each other in a sexually exclusive romantic union15Some Things Are UniversalParent/child incest is tabooBlack is a colorCrimes against the ingroup are punishedPeople are divided into age categories

16Some Things Are Not UniversalReasoning styles, motivation, color recognition, number recognition, emotions (experience and expression), perception of time and space, relational styles, sexual experience and behavior, gender awareness, moral judgments, success models, religiosity, concept of self, concepts of health and the body, concept of the life-span and development, socialization, language concepts

17Degrees of Universality

Start here!18EthnocentrismBelieving that ones own culture is universal or normal and that deviations are abnormal or immoral.19Psychology Is WEIRDMost research can make sense of, and originate from, WEIRD societies:

WesternEducatedIndustrializedRichDemocraticand heterosexual, able-bodied, White, liberal 20General PsychologyThis metaphor itself is a WEIRD bias!

21Psychology Is WEIRD68% of psychology participants are Americans22Psychology Is WEIRD96% of psychology participants are from Western, industrialized countries.23Psychology Is WEIRDBut WEIRD countries only make up approximately 16% of worlds population24Psychology Is WEIRDEven more problematic: 70% of participants are psychology undergraduates25Example of WEIRD FindingMueller-Lyer illusion demo

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Example of WEIRD FindingHow does the US self-esteem stack up against other cultures?

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