Culture Part 1 Heredity

What is Culture Knowledge, values, customs, and physical objects that are shared by members of a society Society – a specific territory inhabited by people who share a common culture Culture defines how people in a society behave in relation to others and to physical objects

Culture and Heredity Heredity – The passing of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another Instincts – genetically inherited patterns of behavior Nonhuman animals rely heavily on instinct to survive

Instincts Humans do not rely as much on instincts There is no mating period No blueprint in our minds of what shelter to build Humans rely more on the culture they have created to guide behavior

Heredity and human behavior Reflexes - an automatic reaction to a physical stimuli Being pinched Being tickled Drive – impulses that reduce discomfort. Eat, sleep, drink, and associate with others

Sociobiology The study of the biological basis of human behavior Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution Sociobiologists believe that the most essential human behaviors are transmitted through genetic code

Sociobiology Sociobiologists believe in a close relation between humans and animals

Criticisms Fear of using genetics as a justification to label specific races superior and inferior Societies around the world are so different that genetics cannot be the only explanation for human action Is there a middle ground?