For better or worse, humans are now one of the major causal forces acting on the earth’s biosphere. Many would point to technology as the reason, but what exactly is technology? In this lecture, I will develop an evolutionarily grounded definition of technology that highlights three key features: material production, social collaboration, and cultural reproduction. […]
This is a special BEC talk in honor of the retirement of one of BEC's core faculty members, Joe Manson. Please note the special time! Refreshments and snacks on the balcony of the anthropology department will follow Joe's talk.
On the Number of Genealogical Ancestors: Tracing to the Source Groups of an Admixed Population Jazlyn Mooney USC In genetically admixed populations, admixed individuals possess ancestry from multiple source groups. Studies of human genetic admixture frequently estimate ancestry components corresponding to fractions of individual genomes that trace to specific ancestral populations. However, the same numerical […]
Patricia Greenfield Distinguished Professor, UCLA Department of Psychology Associate, Harvard Department of Human Evolutionary Biology A Theoretical and Empirical Approach to Cultural Evolution: Intergenerational Transmission, Cognition, and Creativity For the theoretical approach, I will present my multilevel theory of ecological change, cultural evolution, and human development. For the empirical evidence, I will report findings from […]
To Save Humankind, Kill Off the Hero’s Journey of Human Evolution Holly Dunsworth University of Rhode Island In Narratives of Human Evolution, Misia Landau revealed that late 19th and early 20th century fathers of human evolutionary theory, including Charles Darwin, unconsciously conformed their stories to the key structural elements of Russian folktales. Dunsworth argues that […]
Chimp Empire - A Screening and Panel Discussion with the Filmmakers Featuring Sara Edelson Manager of Original Documentary Programming, Netflix James Reed Director, Chimp Empire John Mitani Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Michigan moderated by Clark Barrett Professor, UCLA Department of Anthropology and Director, UCLA Center for Behavior, Evolution and Culture and Abigail Bigham Associate […]
Music and Health: Biological Foundations and Applications Daniel L. Bowling Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences, Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) Every day, hundreds of millions of people turn to music to regulate their mood, take pleasure, and socialize. […]
Incentivized punishers and moralistic offenders destabilize cooperation Tage Rai Assistant Professor Rady School of Management University of California, San Diego Punishment is classically theorized to be essential for the evolution of cooperation in human societies and is the primary means by which states attempt to directly reduce crime. Yet, empirically, punishment is often ineffective at […]
An evolutionary-physiological model of human energy management and the emergence of novel non-communicable diseases Hillard Kaplan Professor, Anthropology, University of New Mexico Research Affiliate, Economic Science Institute, Chapman University This talk presents recent findings obtained with Tsimane and Moseten Native South Americans showing that they 1) engage in high levels of physical activity, and have […]
Generic generalizations within and across contexts Ny Vasil Assistant Professor Psychology Department, California State University East Bay Generic generalizations about natural and social kinds (e.g., “Raccoons have rabies”; “Trader Joe’s cashiers are friendly”) shape how agents learn, explain and intervene on their environment. Yet, there’s no consensus about what underwrites people’s endorsement of generic generalizations. […]
