Sociology and Evolutionary Processes

May 16, 2024

Sociology Lecture on Culture and Evolution

Definition of Culture

  • Refers to customs, knowledge, and behaviors learned and socially transmitted.
  • Includes ideas, values, and objects meaningful to a group.
  • Learned through observation and interactions.
  • Biological component to culture shaped through evolution.

Theory of Evolution (Charles Darwin)

  • Proposed by Charles Darwin.
  • Noticed small variations in species (e.g., beaks of finches varied over locations).
  • Interactions between organisms and their environments.
  • Best-suited animals survive and pass on genes.

Example of Evolution with Finches

  • Scenario: Drought leads to plants with seeds at the bottom of long-petaled flowers.
  • Natural variation in beak size among finches.
  • Birds with long, thin beaks better adapted, survive, and reproduce.
  • Over time, population trends towards long, thin-beaked birds.

Evolution and Social Behavior

  • Evolution can shape not just physical traits but also behaviors.
  • Certain behaviors can be selected for if they contribute to species fitness.

Cultural Universals

  • Practices and beliefs shared by all human cultures.
  • Examples:
    • Medicine systems for dealing with illness.
    • Partnership ceremonies (e.g., marriage).
    • Funeral ceremonies and rituals associated with death.
    • Language and communication.
  • Indicate behaviors selected for as human species evolved.

How Culture Shapes Human Evolution

  • Transition from Hunter-Gatherer to Agricultural Societies:
    • Populations grow, increase exposure to diseases.
    • Only those surviving diseases reproduce, shaping immune systems.
  • Lactose Intolerance:
    • Most humans can't digest milk after weaning due to gene switch-off.
    • Northern Europeans (descendants of cattle-rearing cultures) can digest milk into adulthood.
    • Survival advantage during harsh winters, leading to more offspring with lactose tolerance.

Summary

  • Culture and biology are interconnected.
  • Evolution shapes culture, and culture directs human evolution.