Introduction
Traditionally, culture includes everything that is created by a person throughout his entire existence. The concept of culture is diverse in its explanations and interpretation; it can include creative work and ideas. At the same time, if culture is viewed as the transmission of behaviors and skills across generations in a social way, such characteristics can be attributed not only to humans but also to primates.
Main body
The possibility of social transmission of culture is inherent not only to people. Research shows that human and nonhuman primates also have a culture. To argue this position, such judgments are used as adaptive adjustment of social learning options so that the culture is not unique to homo sapiens, and it can be present and transmitted by other species as well (Price et al., 2017). Additionally, concepts such as the ability to socially learn, sustain traditions, and the cultural intelligence of primates are used (Whiten & van de Waal, 2017). At the same time, other researchers argue that the concept of culture does not apply to primates and is unique to humans.
For example, there are claims that primates can socially perceive information only under a certain set of circumstances, and one conclusion does not apply to other situations (Schofield et al., 2018). Therefore, the discussion is not one-sided, and other researchers express the opposite point of view.
Conclusion
In conclusion, culture is a concept that is controversially viewed in the scientific community. Nowadays, many researchers in their works argue that this trait is not unique to humans and is also present among primates, while others are trying to refute this point of view. However, on the basis of the existing argumentation, it becomes noticeable that even nonhuman primates exhibit traits characteristic of cultural transmission.
References
Price, E. E., Wood, L. A., & Whiten, A. (2017). Adaptive cultural transmission biases in children and nonhuman primates. Infant Behavior and Development, 48, 45-53. Web.
Schofield, D. P., McGrew, W. C., Takahashi, A., & Hirata, S. (2018). Cumulative culture in nonhumans: Overlooked findings from Japanese monkeys?. Primates, 59(2), 113-122. Web.
Whiten, A., & van de Waal, E. (2017). Social learning, culture and the ‘socio-cultural brain’of human and nonhuman primates. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 82, 58-75. Web.