ANTH 011 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Dual Inheritance Theory, Human Behavioral Ecology, Evolutionary Anthropology

• School: College of The Sequoias
• Department: Anthropology (ANTH)
• Course: ANTH 011
• Professor: Allen

Document Summary

There are three broad theoretical frameworks within evolutionary anthropology that include human behavioral ecology, dual inheritance theory, and evolutionary psychology. Human behavioral ecology- posits a link between local ecology and adaptive behaviors the group displays: assumes humans navigate local ecology, including culture, in ways that optimize fitness. Dual inheritance theory- asserts that culture is transmitted like genetic information (but in a learned, non-biological fashion) and is subject to selection because it is variable, transmitted, and has fitness effects. Evolutionary ecology of human life history (mace 2000): Human culture and biology are linked and local cultural practices are part of the local ecology and differ among groups. Author cites compelling evidence of trade-offs between survival and reproduction. Two contemporary controversies: purpose of menopause and the demographic transition. Menopause: why do females shut down their reproductive system and extend their life by 20+ years. Demographic transition- in past 200 years or so, as access to resources has increased, fertility has decreased.