Human culture has evolved significantly throughout the ages. The process of evolution is traditionally associated with primarily physical traits, but evolution has a significant effect on the social behavior of humans as well. The process of natural selection which happened over the years can explain many human traits and reactions. As social animals, humans developed a range of social skills which allowed them to increase their chances of prosperity and survival. There are many areas of human behavior and attitude which can be explained by evolution, and there are some which have a less clear link to natural selection.
One example of human bias produced by evolution is a traditional relationship between sexes. Women used to be extremely dependent on men for hunting and protecting, which males were more fit to do because of their relatively bigger size and physical strength. On the contrary, men were much more independent. In a more advanced society, this resulted in social norms which valued and gave the power almost exclusively to males. Today, women have much more freedom and influence, but stigma and stereotypes did not go away completely. Women are still expected to care for the children and stay at home, as it used to be at the very beginning of society. Taking into account recently acquired freedoms, some women still feel pressure to conform to traditional behavior due to existing barriers and disapproval from some members of society. There is also a ceiling on how high of a status a woman can have, as demonstrated by salary difference favoring males. Moreover, males tend to feel inferior in the work environments where females are in charge. “Sexual harassment can serve as an “equalizer” against women in power, motivated more by control and domination than by sexual desire”( McLaughlin, Uggen, & Blackstone, 2013, p. 2). Traditions evolved over generations may explain the motivations behind such types of harrasment.
Another instance of behavior which was defined by evolution is a tendency to violence. Men tend to be more competitive and more prone to take risks. Historically, there were many physical activities which people participated in: hunting to get food, protecting the group, and in-group struggle for power. Therefore, men who were larger, stronger and more willing to fight had an advantage and could attract healthier females and as a result passed on more genes than their weaker competitors. This tendency can explain why men tend to be more violent and aggressive. Additionally, it shows why women tend to be more attracted to more fit and masculine males.
As human society evolved, so did people’s motivations. As soon as people realized that they are stronger when they work together, they started to develop traits which allowed for better cooperation with their peers. This process was intensified by competition with others, which led to the creation of identity associated with the group and allowed for the creation of norms, standards and notion of belonging to a particular community. Similarly, today people may feel very strongly about belonging to certain groups. This feeling creates a sense of division by nationality, religion, race, sex, and a multitude of other factors.
Social environment evolved dramatically through the course of human existence. Human interactions are different in this day and age. Old traits and automatic responses which allowed human ancestors to thrive, may instead bring hardships for the people of today. For instance, fight or flight response to stress, which triggers increased heart rate and readiness for confrontation or retreat, is often counterproductive in the current environment. Most of our stress today cannot be helped by running or fighting. Instead, we need to be calm and thoughtful and cooperate with others.
It is certain that evolution is responsible for some aspects of human behavior, but it is impossible to determine exactly in what areas and to what degree. For instance, there are human behaviours such as self-harm or suicidal ideation, which seem to be contradictory to evolutionary principles.
References
McLaughlin, H., Uggen, C., & Blackstone, A. (2013). Sexual harassment, workplace authority, and the paradox of power.American Sociological Review, 77(4), 625–647. Web.