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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.
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