Human Behavior and Language: An Evolutionary Perspective

These flashcards cover concepts related to human behavior, reproductive strategies, and the evolution of language as discussed in the lecture.

Reproductive Skew

The distribution of breeding opportunities within a social group, affecting relatedness and competition.

Singular Breeding

A breeding system where one breeding pair is chosen per group, leading to high relatedness and intense competition for breeding positions.

Plural Breeding

A breeding system allowing multiple females to breed, resulting in lower relatedness among offspring and increased competition.

Reproductive Control

Mechanisms used by dominant individuals to suppress the reproduction of subordinates, potentially involving stress and eviction.

Grandmother Effect

The concept that older individuals can enhance their indirect fitness by assisting in the care of their grandchildren.

Cultural Evolution

The spread of behaviors and practices via social learning, including teaching and imitation.

Grammar

A set of rules that governs how language units can be combined to form meaningful sentences.

FOXP2 Gene

A gene associated with speech and language capacity, with mutations linked to speech deficits.

Broca's Area

A brain region critical for speech production, showing abnormalities in individuals with FOXP2 mutations.

Wernicke's Area

A brain region involved in language comprehension.

Critical Period

A phase in early life when exposure to speech is necessary for the full development of language abilities.

Dialect

Variations in communication signals that can convey information about social identity and group membership.

Sexual Selection

A natural selection process where certain traits increase mating success, often based on attractiveness and desirability.

Assortative Mating

The practice of pairing individuals based on similarities in traits such as age, education, and attractiveness.

Queer Behavior in Animals

Non-reproductive same-sex behavior observed in various species, suggesting social bonding and parental cooperation.

Mutual Mate Choice

A scenario where both sexes exhibit selectivity in choosing partners based on preferences influenced by traits.

Sex vs Gender

Differentiation between biological distinctions of male and female (sex) and the socially constructed roles (gender).

Intrasexual Competition

The competition among individuals of the same sex for access to mates, influencing traits and behaviors.

Jealousy

An emotional response to the perceived threat of losing a partner, differing between emotional and sexual infidelity.

Extra-Pair Mating

Behavior where an individual seeks additional reproductive opportunities outside of a primary partnership.

Mating Strategies

Different approaches to mate selection and reproductive success, often varying by sex.