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.