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Primate behavior. Models for human evolution. Objectives. Human characteristics and behaviors :evolution? Discuss language and cultural behaviors of non-human primates. What makes us human?. Habitual bipedal Permanent bisexual groups Large brain relative to body size
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Primate behavior Models for human evolution
Objectives • Human characteristics and behaviors :evolution? • Discuss language and cultural behaviors of non-human primates ANA 215 Model Human Evolution
What makes us human? • Habitual bipedal • Permanent bisexual groups • Large brain relative to body size • Language usage/ culture • Males and females obtain food • Concealed ovulation ANA 215 Model Human Evolution
Hominid body size • Small large body size • Smaller primates: higher BMR (basal metabolic rate) and need more calories than larger primates • Exploit different areas to fulfill needs. • Proportional relationship of brain to body size ANA 215 Model Human Evolution
Language • Vervets monkeys • Present/ closed system • Humans • Past, present, future/open system • Use of symbols is arbitrary • Think symbolically ANA 215 Model Human Evolution
Chimpanzees & language • Washoe (Gardener 1966) • American sign language (ASL) 132 signs • Taught signs to another chimpanzee • Koko & Michael (Patterson) • Used ASL to communicate with one another ANA 215 Model Human Evolution
Chimpanzees & language • Sara (Premack) • Symbolic thought • Sherman & Austin (Savage – Rumbaugh) • Representation of a symbol ANA 215 Model Human Evolution
Evolution of language • Left hemisphere: dominant for language • Broca's and Wernicke's area • Magnetic resonance imaging (Cantalupo and Hopkins 2001) • Broca's area more developed on the left than the right ANA 215 Model Human Evolution
Culture in primates? • All non-genetic learned behavior • Cultural tradition • Japanese macaques - Imo potato washing • Dietary habits and food preferences are learned behaviors ANA 215 Model Human Evolution
Tool use • Termite fishing - chimpanzees • Termite fishing sticks: manufacturing indicates planning for future events. • Leaf sponges • Hammerstones to crack open nuts/fruits • Weapons - white faced capuchin • Used a stick to kill a snake ANA 215 Model Human Evolution
Criteria for cultural behavior (McGrew, 1992) • Innovation • Dissemination • Standardization • Durability • Diffusion • Tradition • Non-subsistence • Naturalness ANA 215 Model Human Evolution
Aggression • Territory, mating partners and food • Home range/core area • Lethal aggression - only chimpanzees and humans • Gombe village (1973 - 1977) • Death of eight chimpanzees by conspecifics ANA 215 Model Human Evolution
Violent behaviors? • Chimpanzees: males are philopatric • Manson and Wrangham (1991) • Lethal behaviors attributed to the fact that males chimpanzees are philopatric. ANA 215 Model Human Evolution
Social bonds • Affiliation • Altruism • Caring for others who are not genetically related • Cooperation • Alliances, coalitions in which all members benefit • Cooperative hunting among Chimpanzees ANA 215 Model Human Evolution