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