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Anthropology
The scientific study of humans including the origins , behaviour, and physical, social, and cultural development.
Psychology
The scientific study of the human mind, mental states, and human behaviour.
Sociology
The scientific study of human social behaviour including individuals, groups, and societies.
What causes human diversity?
- People from different ethnicities and races create or reproduce with various other types of genetic variations tend to have healthier babies due to the gene pool being more diverse (no incest compared to back then)
- Survival of the fittest through the variations of humans
- Human variation and having a variety of traits that are shared makes healthier children and it is a good thing
- Allows us to understand that the reason we are still on this plane is because we have adapted over time
Natural Selection involves three principles:
1. Variation (Every species has a lot of variety within it)
2. Heritability (Individuals pass on traits to their offspring)
3. Environmental Fitness (Individuals who are better adapted to their environment will produce more offspring and pass me on their traits to the next generation)
Louis/ Mary Leaky
In Olduvai Gorge, Kenya 1959 they found an australopithecine skull. Radiometric dating was used for the first time and found the skull to be 1.75 million years old. Many other fossils of other hominids were found.
Donald Johanson
In Ethiopia during 1974 he found a 40% complete human skeleton. The skeleton was named Lucy after a Beatles’ song. The finding is part of a species Australopithecus afarensis which is a human ancestor from 3.2 million years ago
Charles Darwin
In 1831 on Galapgos Island he established the concept of natural selection as evolution. The theory of evolution stated species passed down characteristics to their offspring. He spent 4 years on the HMS Beagle where he observed wildlife and fossils he collected. He came to the conclusion that species were forced to evolve or would otherwise die and be extinct. This became known as “survival of the fittest”. Darwin also suggested that humans first evolved in Africa (Pangea).
What did Jane Goodall contribute to the study of the human species through her research with chimpanzees?
Jane Goodall is a primatologist who studied East Africa’s chimpanzee population who discovered that humans share many characteristics with chimps such as making/ using tools, hunting, teaching, basic learning, laughing/ playing, compassion, and fighting/ dominance over leadership.
5 Characteristics Shared with Humans
- hunting
- building
- laughing/ playing
- sympathy
- basic learning
- teaching
- grooming
- fighting / dominance
- power struggles over leadership
- grief
- embrace/ affection
5 Characteristics unique to humans
- Bi pedal locomotion
- Eye height advantage of upright posture
- Opposing thumbs
- More sophisticated brain,
- Ability to think in abstract terms
- Ability to adapt to a wide range of situations and environments
- Development of a wide range of cultures
- Development of culture to pass on knowledge and traditions
- Far greater awareness of past and future than an animal does
- Uses Tools. Very sophisticated à we make and design tools for specific purposes
- Ability to speak many languages
- Longer period of dependence on parents than any other animal
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