human sociobiology

key concepts

still used in eugenics + nature/nurture to divide humanity into high and low classes

Francis Galton as key promoter

what is sociobiology

scientific factors of evolution that drive social behaviors

• adaptive, physical traits

• adaptive social behavior

Darwin: history of observations

human behavior is evolutionary due to shared facial expressions

• study of remote tribe, finding similar facial expressions

why evolved?

facial emotions

• disgust to avoid harmful material

• communicate danger or safety

history

E.O. Wilson with “Sociobiology: The New Synthesis”

• analyze social behaviors through an evolutionary lens

  • study of human behaviors

evolutionary psychology

how evolution affected the ability to express emotions

• potential maladaptive behaviors that are no longer advantageous b/c human society changes so rapidly

nature vs nurture

Nurture can flexibly regulate gene expression

basic tenants of human sociobiology

1 the human mind and behavior are shaped by natural selection

• Cinderalla effect where genetic child of mother is treated better (kinship selection)

2. the human mind uses heuristics to increase survival

   • cheater detection (Wason Task) where humans solve problems better when framed in a social context

   • related to altruism where cheater detection improves group fitness and social reciprocity in large groups

3. there is a shared, universal core human nature

   • men prefer younger women → common, evolved human trait

   • facial symmetry is attractive which suggests good health and fertility

naturalistic fallacy controversy

what is found in nature is good

biological determinism

most human characteristics are determined at conception

• social forces do play a role in gene expression

‘just so’ theories

untestable narrative explanations for behaviors or traits