PSYCH 217 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Bonobo
29 Feb 2016
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Document Summary
A quick overview of human evolution and social structure. We are part of a large group of mammals (~400 years) that are part of the order primate. Our family (nominidae) split from other primates about 15 million years ago. Common ancestor at root of order @ 60-90 millions years ago. There are 2 distinct species of chimps with a common ancestor ~ 1-2 mya. Bonobos and common chimps have some very different social behaviors. Radically more violent behavior towards stranger chimps. Bonobos use less violent means of conflict management. Sexual behavior = key component of conflict resolution. Neanderthals and biologically modern humans overlapped for about 200k years. Very low population density at one point, probably as few as 5,000 people. Scavenging as much or more than big game hunting. ~10 thousand years ago, beginning of agriculture (planting seeds, living in one place, domesticating animals)
