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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230501T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230501T133000
DTSTAMP:20260611T173854
CREATED:20230306T162159Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230321T161252Z
UID:6773-1682942400-1682947800@bec.ucla.edu
SUMMARY:John Bunce and Caissa Revilla Minaya: Cultural dynamics in an Indigenous Amazonian population: An exploration of intra- and inter-ethnic causal mechanisms
DESCRIPTION:Dr. John Bunce & Dr. Caissa Revilla Minaya\, Culture\, Environment and Health Research Group\, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology \nhttps://www.eva.mpg.de/ecology/projects-and-research-groups/culture-environment-and-health-research-group/ \nTitle: Cultural dynamics in an Indigenous Amazonian population: An exploration of intra- and inter-ethnic causal mechanisms  \nAbstract: For several decades\, evolutionary social science theorists have devoted considerable attention to exploring various mechanisms that influence the adaptive\, and non-adaptive\, dynamics of human culture. However\, less attention has focused on the empirical study of such mechanisms in real-world human populations\, particularly in contexts of disempowered minorities\, for whom cultural change may co-occur with a desire to maintain an ethnic identity distinct from that of powerful neighboring groups. Here\, we present our recent efforts to better understand mechanisms driving cultural dynamics in an Indigenous Matsigenka population in a remote region of Amazonian Peru. Caissa uses Bayesian item-response theory models to characterize variation within the complex set of dietary restrictions (taboos) practiced by Matsigenka parents of young children. She combines this analysis with insights from extensive participant observation to develop a theory for the endogenous emergence of some such cultural practices among the Matsigenka. John uses Bayesian analysis of interview data to explore how cultural norms in domains such as child-rearing\, fairness\, and inheritance are influenced by inter-ethnic interactions between Matsigenka and neighboring Mestizos. He uses a longitudinal quantitative and participatory study of norm change among Matsigenka children attending Mestizo-run boarding schools to narrow the range of possible mechanisms responsible for generating individual-level variation in such ethnic-typical beliefs. Together\, we show how insights gained through both quantitative and qualitative empirical work can inform general theories of the intra- and inter-ethnic causal mechanisms influencing cultural dynamics in our species. \nThis talk will be presented via Zoom only. \nZoom link: https://ucla.zoom.us/j/92826436236?pwd=SytQNTNPSWdwaDNlTm05d2srdXNHUT09 \nMeeting ID: 928 2643 6236 \nPasscode: BEC
URL:https://bec.ucla.edu/event/john-bunce-and-caissa-revilla-minaya-title-tba/
LOCATION:352 Haines Hall
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230508T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230508T133000
DTSTAMP:20260611T173854
CREATED:20230306T162338Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230504T183327Z
UID:6777-1683547200-1683552600@bec.ucla.edu
SUMMARY:Renee Hagen\, Common behaviors and moral codes: Applying cultural evolution and sexual conflict theory to model the dynamics of social norms
DESCRIPTION:Renee Hagen\, Ph.D. Candidate\, Dept. of Anthropology\, UCLA \nhttps://reneehagen.com/ \nTitle: Common behaviors and moral codes: Applying cultural evolution and sexual conflict theory to model the dynamics of social norms\n \nAbstract: \nHow do new social norms spread in social groups\, and how are norms maintained or change over time?  I will present two studies that investigate these questions by using evolutionary perspectives to understand cultural change. In one study I apply the framework of cultural evolution theory to examine what drives change in perinatal care norms among Himba women in the Kunene region of Namibia. Access to formal medical care is on the rise in this region\, and medical workers regularly visit communities to promote WHO-recommended perinatal care practices. Based on interviews with one hundred Himba mothers\, we examine how perceptions of group preferences\, prestige ascribed to outgroup conformers\, interaction with the outgroup and access to resources affect norm adoption. Here I found that women who perceive medical recommendations as common in their group prefer\, plan and practice these recommendations more often themselves. The observed shift toward medical recommendations regarding birth location and contraception use that was in line with conformity bias predictions. In another study\, I look at gender norms from a fitness perspective and ask why people sometimes support norms that seem to be against their own self-interest. Specifically I examine women’s support of patriarchal gender norms in China\, Taiwan\, Japan and South Korea\, and test whether their anticipated inclusive fitness benefits are reflected in their stated attitudes. I find that that part of the variation in attitudes towards gender norms can be explained through varying interests in such norms depending on gender and age. In contrast with previous studies\, I find little evidence that having more sons leads to higher support for patriarchal norms; only in China and South Korea is having more sons linked with a stronger son-preference\, but having more sons is unrelated to other gender norms. Higher social status correlates with egalitarian attitudes more so for women than for men. I suggest that higher social status might decrease the costs for women to contest the dominant gender ideology of their community. \nThis talk will be presented live as well as via Zoom. \nZoom link: https://ucla.zoom.us/j/92826436236?pwd=SytQNTNPSWdwaDNlTm05d2srdXNHUT09 \nMeeting ID: 928 2643 6236 \nPasscode: BEC
URL:https://bec.ucla.edu/event/renee-hagen-title-tba/
LOCATION:352 Haines Hall
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230515T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230515T133000
DTSTAMP:20260611T173854
CREATED:20230306T161519Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230309T133313Z
UID:6764-1684152000-1684157400@bec.ucla.edu
SUMMARY:Nicole Thompson-Gonzalez: Social paths to health and fitness in primates
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Nicole Thompson-Gonzalez\, Assistant Professor\, Dept of Integrative Anthropological Sciences\, University of California-Santa Barbara \nhttp://www.nicolethompsongonzalez.com/ \nThis talk will be presented live as well as via Zoom. \nTitle: Social paths to health and fitness in primates \nAbstract: Friendly social ties are important means to monopolize resources\, buffer risks\, and in turn increase health and fitness across an array of social animals. Although many studies suggest that more and stronger ties are better\, this is not always the case. The effectiveness of social strategies appears to vary by species ecology\, reproductive priorities\, and age. Here\, I discuss the variability of effective social strategies among adult females of one monkey species\, how social ties change with age in adult male and female chimpanzees\, and the relevance of both to human sociality and aging. I also discuss what new non-invasive measures we can use to evaluate health in the wild. I conclude with ongoing and future work that examines the influences of social ties on healthy aging and specific age-related disease. \nZoom link: https://ucla.zoom.us/j/92826436236?pwd=SytQNTNPSWdwaDNlTm05d2srdXNHUT09 \nMeeting ID: 928 2643 6236 \nPasscode: BEC
URL:https://bec.ucla.edu/event/nicole-thompson-gonzalez-social-paths-to-health-and-fitness-in-primates/
LOCATION:352 Haines Hall
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230522T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230522T133000
DTSTAMP:20260611T173854
CREATED:20230306T162603Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230317T131846Z
UID:6780-1684756800-1684762200@bec.ucla.edu
SUMMARY:Caroline Schuppli: Skill acquisition and life history: towards a better understanding of cognitive evolution.
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Caroline Schuppli\, Max Planck Research Group leader\, MPI for Animal Behavior \nhttps://www.ab.mpg.de/person/110356/2736 \nThis talk will be presented via Zoom. \nTitle: Skill acquisition and life history: towards a better understanding of cognitive evolution \nAbstract: Cognitive capacity gets selected for via skills and abilities which provide individuals with fitness benefits. However\, strikingly\, the larger brained a species is\, the more incompetent its infants are at birth and the more they must learn to become functioning adults. This suggests that especially for large-brained species\, the developmental construction of intelligence critically depends on inputs during ontogeny. Therefore\, to understand the evolution of cognition\, we need to look at how skills and abilities develop in individuals. To shed light on these questions\, we conduct long-term research on orangutans as well as look at broader patterns across species using comparative analyses. Our results suggest that that extended developmental periods during which skills can develop as well as learning  mechanisms that allow for efficient skill acquisition are crucial for the evolution of high-level cognition. \nZoom link: https://ucla.zoom.us/j/92826436236?pwd=SytQNTNPSWdwaDNlTm05d2srdXNHUT09 \nMeeting ID: 928 2643 6236 \nPasscode: BEC
URL:https://bec.ucla.edu/event/kristine-chua-title-tba/
LOCATION:352 Haines Hall
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