Runaway Social Selection in Human Evolution

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Mark V. Flinn¹  Kyle Summers²  Bernard J. Crespi³ 

[1] Department of Anthropology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States;Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States;Department of Biology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada;

关键词: social selection;    human evolution;    cooperation;    runaway processes;    cumulative culture;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fevo.2022.894506

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Darwin posited that social competition among conspecifics could be a powerful selective pressure. Alexander proposed a model of human evolution involving a runaway process of social competition based on Darwin’s insight. Here we briefly review Alexander’s logic, and then expand upon his model by elucidating six core arenas of social selection that involve runaway, positive-feedback processes, and that were likely involved in the evolution of the remarkable combination of adaptations in humans. We discuss how these ideas fit with the hypothesis that a key life history innovation that opened the door to runaway social selection, and cumulative culture, during hominin evolution was increased cooperation among individuals in small fission-fusion groups.

【 授权许可】

Unknown