31. Eusocial and anti-social behaviors
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   One interesting and perhaps surprising realization is that evolution can produce complex social behaviors, including self-sacrifice.  Humans are a particularly dramatic example of a social species. Essentially, we cannot exist in isolation.
 

We can see social features in terms of rearing offspring, and a number of other cooperative activities. 

The importance of social interactions is also reflected in how we understand what other humans are thinking. 

One speculation is that the "plain" nature of human faces (compared to that of other primates, makes it easier to tell what others are thinking.

Read: Role of facial expression in social interactions

   primate faces
 

eusocial

 

An introduction to eusociality (Nature)

Lifetime monogamy and the evolution of eusociality: Boomsma, 2009

Eusociality: origins & consequences: Wilson & Holldobier, 2005

Learn more about a eusocial mammal, the naked mole rat!

Questions to answer


  
  1. How do we "check" whether our reading of another's emotions are correct.
  2. Where does trust come from?
  3. Does social evolution explain morality?
Questions to ponder
  • Would different types of social groups have different types of morality?
  • Is the next step in evolution, the evolution of eusocial humans?
revise this besocratic activity.
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modified 10-May-2014
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