Behavioural and Social Behavioural and Social SciencesSciences

DefinitionsDefinitions

SociologySociology -focuses on people in groups, the -focuses on people in groups, the relationships between people and relationships between people and

the the social structures developed by social structures developed by people.people.

PsychologyPsychology –focuses on individuals, studying –focuses on individuals, studying

their mental processes and their mental processes and behaviours.behaviours.

AnthropologyAnthropology – concerns itself with human – concerns itself with human beings as a species and as beings as a species and as members of different cultures.members of different cultures.

Two divisions of Two divisions of AnthropologyAnthropology

CulturalCultural - different ways humans - different ways humans think and act in cultures around the think and act in cultures around the worldworld

Physical Physical – humans as a biological – humans as a biological species and how they interact with species and how they interact with the environment; origins and the environment; origins and changeschanges

Anthropology: Anthropology: How did we get here?How did we get here?

Until the Until the mid 1850’smid 1850’s , most people , most people believed that humans had always been believed that humans had always been how they were and had lived on Earth for how they were and had lived on Earth for more 6000 years.more 6000 years.

18591859 – British biologist Charles Darwin – British biologist Charles Darwin published “published “On the Origin of SpeciesOn the Origin of Species” which ” which argued that all life slowly evolved.argued that all life slowly evolved.

18711871 – he published “ – he published “The Descent of ManThe Descent of Man” ” which focused on man’s relationship to which focused on man’s relationship to other creatures.other creatures.

DARWIN’S THEORY: DARWIN’S THEORY: ““Survival of the FittestSurvival of the Fittest””

All plants and animals evolve from a lower order All plants and animals evolve from a lower order to a more complex form.to a more complex form.

Only the strongest of the offspring will survive, Only the strongest of the offspring will survive, reproduce and pass on their characteristics to the reproduce and pass on their characteristics to the next generationnext generation

Any characteristic which is not necessary to Any characteristic which is not necessary to survival will gradually disappear.survival will gradually disappear.

Basically, all life on earth began over a billion Basically, all life on earth began over a billion years ago as single one-celled organisms and years ago as single one-celled organisms and evolved to more complex species.evolved to more complex species.

Therefore, humans evolved from the lower order Therefore, humans evolved from the lower order of species, otherwise known as PRIMATES!of species, otherwise known as PRIMATES!

Survival of living things will Survival of living things will depend on:depend on:

PredatorsPredators DiseaseDisease EnvironmentalEnvironmental

conditionsconditions

RESULT:RESULT:

Contradicted the theory of Creation Contradicted the theory of Creation in the Biblein the Bible

Humans were related to a lower Humans were related to a lower order of animals! NO WAY!!!order of animals! NO WAY!!!

Upsetting and insulting to believe Upsetting and insulting to believe that our ancestors were apes!that our ancestors were apes!

Why is evolution Controversial AnywayWhy is evolution Controversial Anyway??

Controversy!!!

Britain’s Punch magazine, 1871The Hornet, 1871

What makes Humans so What makes Humans so special?special?

If Darwin’s theory is true, then humans If Darwin’s theory is true, then humans evolved very slowly from the lower order evolved very slowly from the lower order of species called PRIMATES (Chimpanzee, of species called PRIMATES (Chimpanzee, baboon, gorilla, gibbon and monkeys)baboon, gorilla, gibbon and monkeys)

Difficulty of determining when primate Difficulty of determining when primate ended and humans began in the ended and humans began in the evolutionary lineevolutionary line

As such, many anthropologists study these As such, many anthropologists study these primates to finds links between them and primates to finds links between them and humans.humans.

Connections with other Connections with other species:species:

Jane GoodallJane Goodall Studied the behaviour of chimps in Nigeria Studied the behaviour of chimps in Nigeria

starting in 1960 for over 10 years.starting in 1960 for over 10 years. She began to recognize personality and She began to recognize personality and

social characteristicssocial characteristics Discovered that primates use tools(until Discovered that primates use tools(until

then only humans)then only humans) Very social creaturesVery social creatures They show emotionsThey show emotionsDian FosseyDian Fossey Studied the mountain gorilla in Rwanda, Studied the mountain gorilla in Rwanda,

AfricaAfrica