Thinking Like an Anthropologist : Social Life of Primates
We share in common with our primate relatives and we asked why are all primates so social with one another? Unlike solitary animals, all primates (us included) form communities, and we develop bonds of mutual dependency and obligation to one another. In a word, we develop friendships. Barbara Smuts’ work with baboons, for example, has shown that contrary to traditional ideas on behavior and instinct, male baboons are more likely to help support the offspring of his female friends rather than those own biological offspring. Could friendship really be this important? It was once believed that what distinguishes human beings from other animals are our large brains, our ability to invent cultural innovations, and our profound attachment to each other. More recent work in anthropology, however, has shattered this belief. Not only are we genetically similar to other primates, especially apes, but we also behave similarly. Perhaps more than any other feature, our ability to form and maintain social connections has been the key to our evolutionary development and survival.
PROMPT: After considering all of the evidence we have on modern nonhuman primates, please address the following essay question: Why are primates social?
Your response must include:
an argument (thesis)
evidence from the reading and lecture
an analysis of your evidence
an essay structure, complete with an introduction, body paragraph and a conclusion
Lecture:
What does it mean to be a primate?
The Social Life of Primates
Reading:
Chapter 7
Smuts-Barbara-What-Are-Friends-For