Human Survival ProblemsHuman Survival Problems

Combating the hostile Forces of Combating the hostile Forces of NatureNature

Lindsey ArkfeldLindsey Arkfeld

What is Survival?What is Survival?

• Definition of SurvivalDefinition of Survival►►Movie Clips Depicting Different Types of Movie Clips Depicting Different Types of SurvivalSurvival

• How we define survival affects the How we define survival affects the issues attached to itissues attached to it

►►Survival QuizSurvival Quiz

• Factors that challenge Human Factors that challenge Human SurvivalSurvival►►Weather, Food Shortages, Disease, ShelterWeather, Food Shortages, Disease, Shelter

Movie ClipsMovie Clips

• My Super Sweet 16My Super Sweet 16http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1536976&launchedFrom=/ontv/dyn/http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1536976&launchedFrom=/ontv/dyn/

sweet_16/series.jhtml#/overdrive/?id=1536976&launchedFrom=/ontv/sweet_16/series.jhtml#/overdrive/?id=1536976&launchedFrom=/ontv/dyn/sweet_16/series.jhtmldyn/sweet_16/series.jhtml

• Video Game SurvivalVideo Game Survivalhttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-

7065601103080667952&q=survival7065601103080667952&q=survival

• Survival in BurmaSurvival in Burmahttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8256420628774304257&q=survivalhttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8256420628774304257&q=survival

Food Acquisition and Food Acquisition and SelectionSelection• Food and Water are most important Food and Water are most important

for survivalfor survival• Food has other properties of being a Food has other properties of being a

cultural and social activitycultural and social activity• Have adaptations built Have adaptations built

in that allow us to stay in that allow us to stay away from certain toxinsaway from certain toxinsand attain the correct and attain the correct nutrientsnutrients

Food AdaptationsFood Adaptations

• Children’s dislike of broccoli and Children’s dislike of broccoli and Brussels sproutsBrussels sprouts

• Predisposition to disgust of certain Predisposition to disgust of certain objects that can jeopardize survivalobjects that can jeopardize survival►►Found across culturesFound across cultures►►Fear Factor ExampleFear Factor Example

http://www.nbc.com/Fear_Factor/http://www.nbc.com/Fear_Factor/

Food AdaptationsFood Adaptations

• The Antimicrobial The Antimicrobial HypothesisHypothesis

►►Spices- used to Spices- used to inhibit growth of inhibit growth of microorganisms and microorganisms and prevent production prevent production of toxinsof toxins

• Discussion: Agree or Discussion: Agree or

DisagreeDisagree

1. Garlic2. Onion3. Allspice4. Oregano5. Thyme6. Cinnamon7. Tarragon8. Cumin9. Cloves10. Lemon

grass11. Bay leaf12. Chile

peppers13. Rosemary14. Marjoram15. Mustard

16. Caraway17. Mint18. Sage19. Fennel20. Coriander21. Dill22. Nutmeg23. Basil24. Parsley25. Cardamom26. Pepper

(white/black)27. Ginger28. Anise seed29. Celery seed30. Lemon/lime

Spices with Antimicrobial Properities

http://www.fiery-foods.com/dave/spices.html

Example: Pumpkin Spice Example: Pumpkin Spice BreadBread• CinnamonCinnamon

Comes from bark of a tree flourishing along the Comes from bark of a tree flourishing along the Malabar Coast. Mild, warm, sweet, and aromatic.Malabar Coast. Mild, warm, sweet, and aromatic.

• ClovesClovesSpicy, dried, rich red, unopened bud of the clove Spicy, dried, rich red, unopened bud of the clove tree. Very strong flavor and pungency.tree. Very strong flavor and pungency.

• NutmegNutmegComes from the inner kernel of the tough-husked Comes from the inner kernel of the tough-husked fruit Myristica fragrant. Used sparingly but often fruit Myristica fragrant. Used sparingly but often in a variety of dishes.in a variety of dishes.

Why humans drink alcohol?Why humans drink alcohol?

• A by-product of adaptive A by-product of adaptive fondness for ripe fruitfondness for ripe fruit► ► Drunken Monkey HypothesisDrunken Monkey Hypothesis

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_mhttp://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1134/is_10_113/ai_n86407261134/is_10_113/ai_n8640726

• Why some people drink Why some people drink too much?too much?http://findarticles.com/p/articles/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CXH/is_1_24/ai_72884221mi_m0CXH/is_1_24/ai_72884221

• DiscussionDiscussion

Morning Sickness- The Embryo Morning Sickness- The Embryo Protection HypothesisProtection Hypothesis

• Sickness helps ward off toxins from babySickness helps ward off toxins from baby

• Number of food women find distasteful Number of food women find distasteful contains toxinscontains toxins►►Coffee, Meat, alcohol, vegetablesCoffee, Meat, alcohol, vegetables

• Possible other causes of sicknessPossible other causes of sickness

• Discussion- Do you agree with the hypothesis?Discussion- Do you agree with the hypothesis?

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/254.htmlhttp://www.babycenter.com/refcap/254.html

Shelter and LandscapeShelter and Landscape

• Savanna HypothesisSavanna Hypothesis►►Settle in environments abundant in Settle in environments abundant in

resources and contain small risksresources and contain small risks

►►Helps explain why humans prefer natural Helps explain why humans prefer natural

environments- seen in all culturesenvironments- seen in all cultures

*Discussion*Discussion

• 3 Stages of Habitat Selection3 Stages of Habitat Selection

Combating Predators and Combating Predators and Environmental DangersEnvironmental Dangers

• Fear- unpleasant feeling that arises as a Fear- unpleasant feeling that arises as a normal response to a realistic dangernormal response to a realistic danger

• Phobias- fears wildly out of proportion to Phobias- fears wildly out of proportion to realistic dangerrealistic danger

• 4 ways fear can offer protection4 ways fear can offer protection

• Serve as a survival function- are a signal of Serve as a survival function- are a signal of danger and cause one to deal with the danger and cause one to deal with the source of the dangersource of the danger

Combating Predators and Combating Predators and Environmental DangersEnvironmental Dangers

• More fearful of dangers in our ancient More fearful of dangers in our ancient environment than in the presentenvironment than in the present►►DiscussionDiscussion

• Developmental timing of fears at time Developmental timing of fears at time when danger would be encounteredwhen danger would be encountered

• Children require cognitive skills that Children require cognitive skills that develop to help avoid dangerdevelop to help avoid danger

Fears and PhobiasFears and Phobias

Type of FearType of Fear• AstrapophobiaAstrapophobia- -

fear of lighteningfear of lightening• IophobiaIophobia- fear of - fear of

poisonspoisons• HemaphobiaHemaphobia- fear - fear

of bloodof blood• AgoraphobiaAgoraphobia- fear - fear

of crowded placesof crowded places

Adaptive ProblemAdaptive Problem• Being struck by Being struck by

lighteninglightening• Being poisonedBeing poisoned

• Dangerous predators Dangerous predators or humansor humans

• Crowded places from Crowded places from which one can’t which one can’t escapeescape

Extreme PhobiasExtreme Phobias

• GraphophobiaGraphophobia: Fear of writing.: Fear of writing.• HygrophobiaHygrophobia: Fear of liquids, esp. wine : Fear of liquids, esp. wine

and waterand water• IatrophobiaIatrophobia: Fear of going to the doctor.: Fear of going to the doctor.• MetrophobiaMetrophobia: Fear of poetry.: Fear of poetry.

• Disscussion- how do extreme phobias fit Disscussion- how do extreme phobias fit into the hypothesisinto the hypothesis

• http://www.ojohaven.com/fun/phobias.htmlhttp://www.ojohaven.com/fun/phobias.html

Combating DiseaseCombating Disease

• Have evolved adaptations to combat Have evolved adaptations to combat diseasesdiseases

►►FeverFever

►►Iron Poor BloodIron Poor Blood

Puzzle of SuicidePuzzle of Suicide

• Believe genes aren’t worth passing Believe genes aren’t worth passing on and have a better chance without on and have a better chance without themthem

• Discussion- Does this seem Discussion- Does this seem plausible? Do suicide victims think plausible? Do suicide victims think about their genes?about their genes?

• http://http://www.evoyage.com/Snipettes/Suicide.htmwww.evoyage.com/Snipettes/Suicide.htm

Hunter-Gather HypothesisHunter-Gather HypothesisThe emergence of modern The emergence of modern

humanshumans

Hunting HypothesisHunting Hypothesis

• Transition from gather to hunting as Transition from gather to hunting as an impetus for human evolutionan impetus for human evolution►►Tool making and use, larger human brain, and Tool making and use, larger human brain, and complex language skillscomplex language skills

• Meat has been central to the human Meat has been central to the human diet for thousands of generationsdiet for thousands of generations►►Bodies are designed for meat eatingBodies are designed for meat eating

• Vegetarians DietsVegetarians Dietshttp://www.co.mohave.az.us/WIC/Vegetarian.htmhttp://www.co.mohave.az.us/WIC/Vegetarian.htm

• Hypothesis has helped to explain a Hypothesis has helped to explain a number of features in human number of features in human evolutionevolution

Provisioning hypothesisProvisioning hypothesis

• Helps explain males heavy parental Helps explain males heavy parental investment in children- men bring home investment in children- men bring home meat to childrenmeat to children

• Helps explain why humans form Helps explain why humans form cooperative groups and coalitionscooperative groups and coalitions

• Accounts for reciprocal alliance and Accounts for reciprocal alliance and social exchange with friendssocial exchange with friends

• Helps explain the sexual division of Helps explain the sexual division of laborlabor

• Development of stone toolsDevelopment of stone tools

Showoff hypothesisShowoff hypothesis

• Rival to provisioning hypothesisRival to provisioning hypothesis►►Hunting to gain status from neighborsHunting to gain status from neighbors

• Better for women to have show-off Better for women to have show-off neighbors- benefit more from the neighbors- benefit more from the meatmeat

• Example from the Ache tribeExample from the Ache tribe►►84% of food gathered by men were 84% of food gathered by men were shared outside of the familyshared outside of the family

The Gathering HypothesisThe Gathering Hypothesis

• Opposite to hunting hypothesisOpposite to hunting hypothesis►►Women provided the critical impetus through Women provided the critical impetus through gatheringgathering

• Helps explain ancestors dietsHelps explain ancestors diets

• Shows a more equal importance of Shows a more equal importance of womenwomen

Problems with Gathering Problems with Gathering HypothesisHypothesis

• Cannot explain Cannot explain

►►The division of laborThe division of labor

►►The high parental investment of malesThe high parental investment of males

►►Powerful male coalitionPowerful male coalition

►►The human gut structureThe human gut structure

►►Reciprocal alliancesReciprocal alliances

►►Sharp difference between humans and Sharp difference between humans and apesapes

Scavenging hypothesisScavenging hypothesis

• Ancestors acquired meat through Ancestors acquired meat through scavengingscavenging

• 4 reasons why scavenging could not 4 reasons why scavenging could not be our main source of meatbe our main source of meat

1. Kills by large predators are rare1. Kills by large predators are rare

2. Depends on what is left over2. Depends on what is left over

3. Would have to compete with others3. Would have to compete with others

4. Meat left rots quickly4. Meat left rots quickly

DiscussionDiscussion

Which hypothesis seems to be Which hypothesis seems to be the most correct to you and the most correct to you and

why?why?

Hunter-Gather hypothesis Hunter-Gather hypothesis shows sex differences in shows sex differences in

spatial abilitiesspatial abilities• Women- Better at spatial location Women- Better at spatial location

memorymemory

• Men- Better at navigational abilities, Men- Better at navigational abilities, mental rotationmental rotation

• Exercise- Mental rotation and location Exercise- Mental rotation and location memory testsmemory tests

• Articles- Silverman and Eals (1992)Articles- Silverman and Eals (1992)

Cherney and Ryalls (1999)Cherney and Ryalls (1999)

Additional resourcesAdditional resources• http://www.geocities.com/jieyin98/evolhttp://www.geocities.com/jieyin98/evol

ution.htmlution.html

• http://home1.gte.net/ericjw1/evpsych.hhttp://home1.gte.net/ericjw1/evpsych.htmltml

• http://lilt.ilstu.edu/rtdirks/EVOL.htmlhttp://lilt.ilstu.edu/rtdirks/EVOL.html

• http://www.hbes.com/http://www.hbes.com/