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The cooperative breeding perspective helps in pinning down when uniquely human evolutionary processes are necessary

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2016

Judith Maria Burkart  and
Carel P. van Schaik
Judith Maria Burkart
Affiliation:
Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich. Judith.Burkart@aim.uzh.ch vschaik@aim.uzh.ch www.aim.uzh.ch
Carel P. van Schaik
Affiliation:
Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich. Judith.Burkart@aim.uzh.ch vschaik@aim.uzh.ch www.aim.uzh.ch
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Abstract

The cultural group selection (CGS) approach provides a compelling explanation for recent changes in human societies, but has trouble explaining why our ancestors, rather than any other great ape, evolved into a hyper-cooperative niche. The cooperative breeding hypothesis can plug this gap and thus complement CGS, because recent comparative evidence suggests that it promoted proactive prosociality, social transmission, and communication in Pleistocene hominins.

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Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 39 , 2016 , e34
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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