What is it in our evolution that made us become sociable and friendly above pure self-interest? Considering chimpanzees are just as sociable as humans, how far back in our history can we find these changes?
2007-03-16 12:32:00 · 8 answers · asked by sum1 2 in Social Science ➔ Sociology
by nature, human beings are social animals; requiring bonding andcommunication with other social beings.
atp
2007-03-19 14:47:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you can go all the way back to the beginning of human evolution to answer your question.
Original "humans" (or what ever rung of the evolutionary ladder we were on) were not suited for personal defense or protection. We were relatively small, didn't have sharp claws or fangs, couldn't out run most of the predators, and we didn't have the luxury of a tough hide or horns. Consequently, as an individual, we were a sitting duck for any animal that decided that we might be a delicious change of diet.
Our only recourse was to gather together in herds (let's say tribes, it sounds less animalistic) whose numbers offered some semblance of protection. So, a lonely traveler might try to obtain friends within a passing tribe to be invited into the protective circle.
If you study any of the herding animals, when they sense danger, their first priority is to defend the young. If the danger persists, the bigger and more aggressive males put themselves between the danger and the tribe. Of course, you won't say that these herds of bison, wildebeests, or zebras have made "friends" with the individual members of their herd, but you must accept the fact that each of the individuals have accepted the responsibility of their position within it.
Now, we humans have taken this concept of tribal responsibilty and expanded it to include emotional need. Since science has yet to prove that any other animal acknowledges or is aware of emotional need, we stand alone and call it "friendship". So, when it all comes down to it, "we belong" and can rest easy knowing we have friends(the tribe) surrounding us for protection, emotional or otherwise.
2007-03-16 13:09:01 · answer #2 · answered by shaboom2k 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know for a fact that during the second world war, ethics in research weren't as strict. So the German (and others) made many many researches that went against ethics we have today.
They took some Jew babies away from their mothers to study affection. They fed the babies with gloves, never touched them if not necessary, changed the diapers with gloves, etc. The babies were well treated, but had NO affection whatsoever. You know what happened? They died. ALL of them.
There is also another man who studied affection with new born babies, but with chimps. The baby chimps were in a cage with two fake mommy chimps. One in stainless steal that had a bottle of milk to feed them with, and one in stainless steal covered with real fur. ALL the baby chimps, after hesitating between the two fake mothers, chose the fake mum with fur. All preferred the warmth and the affection of the fur to the food.
Amazing huh? It is not a learnt behaviour. Chimps and human beings NEED affection, it's a natural and necessary need. I'm guessing it's always been that way.
Before the baby develops a conscience, it's like a ball of emotions. It needs affection, but it's not aware it does.
2007-03-17 12:18:32 · answer #3 · answered by Andrine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is in our pure self-interest to be friendly, sociable, and form alliances with other members of our species. We're better able to survive by dividing up tasks and sharing resources with each other. The enjoyment we get out of being social is an internal mechanism that drives us to seek those social relationships.
2007-03-16 12:38:42 · answer #4 · answered by Buying is Voting 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because we need love. We need to feel good about ourselves. We want people to like us. It's the grease that makes the gears turns and the engine run. Division of power, survival of the fittest. Emotion serves the Organism. None of it is above pure self interest. KK
2007-03-16 12:44:54 · answer #5 · answered by KK 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
relies upon on the pal. some adult males have friends that they are able to talk to approximately issues. interior the top, maximum adult males are no longer mushy speaking approximately intercourse issues. Its like a mechanic asking the place is the engine. we can communicate approximately how plenty relaxing we've had and the freaky issues that pass on, yet below no circumstances do we ask for suggestion on sexual issues. we can communicate a weigh down yet we call it some thing distinctive like "She is so warm, what do you think of?" wish it enables.....
2016-10-01 01:20:30 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reciprocal altruism. Before the common primate ancestor. The haplodiploids are the model for early altruism and they go back to before the dinosaurs.
2007-03-16 16:51:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
we don't want to be alone.
2007-03-21 06:44:12 · answer #8 · answered by J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋