Primate culture

Question 1

What is culture?

Answer 1

Socially-transmitted behaviour

Question 2

What is culture based on?

Answer 2

The resources available to and the previous experiences of the group.

Question 3

Culture varies because different groups have different resources and experiences. True or false?

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Different populations of the same species can display different cultures. True or false?

Answer 4

True, as culture is situation-dependent

Question 5

Culture can be described as what?

Answer 5

Intra-specific behavioural diversity

Question 6

Why do humans like to display cultural markers?

Answer 6

For identity

Question 7

What two factors contribute to the ‘cultural profile’ of a group?

Answer 7

Behaviour channelled by the environment

Arbitrary behaviours

Question 8

Behaviours channelled by the environment are ‘moulded by necessity’. What does this mean?

Answer 8

They result from responding to environmental factors

Question 9

How are behaviours channelled by the environment still cultural?

Answer 9

Because they can be socially transmitted

Question 10

Because some behaviours are channelled by the environment, they can be observed in different groups occupying similar environments. Give an example of this?

Answer 10

The self-medication of gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos. They swallow rough leaves to expel gut parasites.

Question 11

What is an arbitrary behaviour?

Answer 11

A behaviour based on random choice or personal whim, rather than for an actual reason

Question 12

Are arbitrary behaviours adaptive?

Answer 12

No, they are random but for some reason were copied and passed on

Question 13

How do arbitrary behaviours show group identity?

Answer 13

Because it is unique, and only members of that particular group do it.

‘Things is how we do things here’

Question 14

Give an example of arbitrary behaviours in a) chimps and b) capuchins.

Answer 14

a) A-frame grooming

b) Poking of each other’s eyeballs (signals trust)

Question 15

What is ‘panthropology’?

Answer 15

The culture observed in the genus Pan, i.e. chimps and bonobos

Question 16

Historically humans are perceived as superior and special compared to animals. True or false?

Answer 16

True

Question 17

What 4 things supposedly set us apart from other animals?

Answer 17

1. Language
2. Technology
3. Religious belief
4. Cultural diversity

Question 18

Studies of Great Apes have blurred man-animal distinctions. Why?

Answer 18

Language, technology and cultural diversity have been observed

Question 19

Humans are becoming increasingly zoomorphised. What does this mean?

Answer 19

Animal characteristics are being assigned to humans

Question 20

Animals are becoming increasingly anthropomorphised. What does this mean?

Answer 20

Human characteristics are being assigned to animals

Question 21

Many believe we should revise the current taxonomic system. How?

Answer 21

By merging the genera Pan and Homo

Question 22

Merging Pan and Homo would create what?

Answer 22

‘A community of equals’

Question 23

Dualists theories such as mind/body and animal/human are becoming outdated. True or false?

Answer 23

True.

Question 24

What is the Great Ape Project?

Answer 24

An initiative that seeks to extend the community of equals to include ALL great apes

Question 25

What are the three main principles of the community of equals for its members?

Answer 25

1. A right to life
2. The protection of individual freedom
3. Freedom from torture

Question 26

In the community of equals, what is ‘a right to life’?

Answer 26

All members of the community have equal rights to life, i.e. you cannot kill a great ape except in self-defence

Question 27

In the community of equals, what is ‘the protection of individual freedom’?

Answer 27

Great apes cannot be imprisoned for no reason and should be entitled to fair, legal trials

Question 28

In the community of equals, what is ‘freedom from torture’?

Answer 28

The infliction of any kind of pain on a great ape is abhorrent and wrong.

Question 29

Essentially, what does the community of equals want?

Answer 29

Human rights for great apes

Question 30

What justifies the inclusion of the great apes within the community of equals?

Answer 30

Mental capacities and emotional lives similar to ours

Question 31

Great apes cannot defend their own rights. How should this be handled?

Answer 31

They should have human guardians to protect their interests, much like young or disabled humans have.

Question 32

Give two arguments against the Great Ape Project.

Answer 32

1. 3/4 of the world do not, in practice receive human rights. Why should animals?
2. Great apes like the chimpanzee are primary laboratory animals

Question 33

Who founded the Great Ape Project and when?

Answer 33

Peter Singer and Paola Cavalieri in 1993

Question 34

What is humanism?

Answer 34

The belief that humans are unique (and therefore superior)

Question 35

Humans are not unique. Which other groups show language, technology and culture?

Answer 35

Primates, cetaceans, elephants, birds

Question 36

Humans are the only group to commit suicide. True or false?

Answer 36

False, cetaceans do

Question 37

Humans are the only group to cry and mourn. True or false?

Answer 37

False, elephants do

Question 38

What is gradualism?

Answer 38

The belief that man-animal boundaries are blurred, e.g. the zoomorphism of humans and anthropomorphism of animals.

Question 39

What is physical intelligence?

Answer 39

Understanding how the physical world works.

Question 40

How does self-medication of prickly leaves rid great apes of gut bacteria?

Answer 40

They induce cramps and diarrhoea, disrupting the parasite lifecycle so they cannot reproduce.