Chapter 8- Primate Models for the Evolution of Human Behavior Flashcards
Washburn and Devore 1961 study was important because they did what to discuss early human behavior (compare it)
Utilized savanna baboons as a model of early hominin behavior because they live in open areas and spend much of the day on the ground
Encephalization
the proportional size of the brain relative to some other measure, usually an estimate of overall body size, such as weight. The term refers to increases in brain size beyond what would be expected given the body size of a particular species
allometry
scaling, the differential proportion among various anatomical structures. Conducted when comparing species
Cortex
the layer that covers the cerebral hemispheres, which in turn cover more primitive or older structures related to bodily functions and the sense of smell. Composed of neurons
Neocortex-
the more recently evolved portions of the cortex of the brain that are involved with higher mental functions and composed of areas that integrate incoming information from different sensory organs.
Human prenatal growth is restricted until when?
after birth
important points about brain development
Primate brains increased in relative size and complexity because of social groups (theory 1)
The brains evolved because of a food advantage (theory 2)
Group size is limited by brain size to the extent that a group can’t be made up of more animals than individuals can recognize and interact with (pg 216)
Nonhuman communication consists of mostly involuntary vocalizations and actions that convey information solely about an animal’s emotional state, may be disconnected from time. what is this
the traditional viewpoint about language in primates
what does Broces area do?
it is in the left frontal lob, controls speech and speech muscles, located in the motor cortex
what does Wenicke’s area do?
left temporal lob, processes auditory information
why are these areas important to evolutIon?
specialization in these areas may have preceeded evolution
What regulates speech in humans and what is its call sign?
gene FOXP2
How does the human protein in FOXP2 differ from that of apes?
two amino acid substitutes
CUTURAL BEHAVIOR (CB) of Japanese Macaques
Imo washed their potato in a stream before eating, 3 other monkeys were doing the same thing several years later- dietary practices and food habits are learned
Orantutans CB
19 behaviors that seem to be cultural varients, use of nets for play and activites and not sleeping, roofs, used sticks to scratch bodies and leaves as napkins
Gorilla CB
used a walking stick like a cane through a river
Chimps CB
fish for insects with sticks, used anvils to open nuts, dig for food with tools, shows planning, attention to shape and size of objects lead itself to a preconceived idea of what finished product should look like
Capuchins CB
use small branches to probe for water, used stones to obtain food
anthropocentric
Viewing nonhuman organisms in terms of human experience, emphasizing humans over everything else
Core area-
the portion of a home range containing the highest concentration of resources, most aggressively defended area
Territory
the portion of a home range actively defended against intrusion, particularly by members of the same species
Chimps are violent bastards, why?
gang up on others, lethal “raids” of other chimp groups in Uganda (goodall)
Prosocial behaviors in primates include
Include assistance, sharing, care giving, and perhaps even compassion
examples of altruism in chimps
sit near dying relatives, rescue those who fall in water, come to aid of relatives, adoption of orphan animals,
- individuals are more likely to perform risky or self sacrificing behaviors for the benefit of a relative who shares genes with the performer
kin selection hypothesis
Group selection
an individual may act altruistically to benefit other group members because ultimately it’s to the performers benefit that the group be maintained
