What Makes us HumanWhat Makes us Human

Social ScienceSocial Science’’s Answerss Answers

PsychologyPsychology

Humans possess:Humans possess: COGNITIVE PROCESS – the ability to COGNITIVE PROCESS – the ability to

interpret and manipulate mental ideas and interpret and manipulate mental ideas and images to obtain information, to reason, and images to obtain information, to reason, and to solve problemsto solve problems

CEREBAL CORTEX which controls senses, CEREBAL CORTEX which controls senses, thoughts, language and memorythoughts, language and memory

Two ways of thinking:Two ways of thinking: Deductive: applying general assumptions to Deductive: applying general assumptions to

specific areasspecific areas• All humans have brainsAll humans have brains• Zach is human.Zach is human.• Therefore, Zach has a brainTherefore, Zach has a brain

Inductive reasoning: collecting Inductive reasoning: collecting specific information to form specific information to form general assumptionsgeneral assumptions Most women enjoy cookingMost women enjoy cooking I am a womanI am a woman I must enjoy cookingI must enjoy cooking

Deductive reasoning is more Deductive reasoning is more accurateaccurate

We attempt to define and We attempt to define and identify parts of the problemidentify parts of the problem Then we try to find solutionsThen we try to find solutions

PersonalityPersonality Personality which Influences our Personality which Influences our

response behaviourresponse behaviour Animals Animals ““personalitypersonality”” – often – often

chalked up to conditioning or chalked up to conditioning or instinctinstinct Eg. Dog is friendlier to children Eg. Dog is friendlier to children

be/c the child more likely to feed be/c the child more likely to feed the dog than an adult wouldthe dog than an adult would

TRAITS – predispositions to behave in a certain TRAITS – predispositions to behave in a certain way in various situations (see text p 51)way in various situations (see text p 51)

PersonalityPersonality characteristicscharacteristics

UnstableUnstable Worrying, vulnerable, impatientWorrying, vulnerable, impatient

StableStable Calm, self satisfied, patientCalm, self satisfied, patient

ExtrovertExtrovert Sociable, fun loving, talkativeSociable, fun loving, talkative

IntrovertIntrovert Reserved, quiet, self controlledReserved, quiet, self controlled

ConscientiousConscientious Careful, reliable, ambitiousCareful, reliable, ambitious

undirectedundirected Careless, undependable, aimlessCareless, undependable, aimless

Gender vs. SexGender vs. Sex

Sex – biological differences between male Sex – biological differences between male and femalesand females

Gender – feminine and masculine traits Gender – feminine and masculine traits often associated with biological often associated with biological ““plumbingplumbing”” Not necessarily applied appropriatelyNot necessarily applied appropriately Some males feel/act more feminine, some Some males feel/act more feminine, some

females feel/act more masculinefemales feel/act more masculine

AnthropologyHow Do Humans fit in? Social scientists look for

answers in:Genetics: the science of

inheritanceInfluences of environment

and heredity (transmitting of characteristics from parents to offspring) trace evolutionary

development of humans

The Peppered Moth

Gregor Mendal – pea flower experiements, became background for genetic inheritance

1924 – R. DART discovers fossilized child in South Africa (Australopithecus Africanus), postulates that Humans originated in Africa not Asia as was believed before

Human ClassificationsPrimates: humans, apes,

monkeysSubdivided into 10 categories

Humans – HOMINIDAE – from “Hominids” by anthropologists We have larger braincase than other

primates Teeth are placed in rounded arches Big toes are not opposable (able to

grasp things) Modern humans ONLY surviving

members of this group HOMO – man, SAPIENS – “wise

and intelligent”

Human GroupingsConcept of Race - Lead to a

lot of human misery = HOLOCAUST, slavery

ASHLEY MONTAGU – coined term “ethnic groups” ETHNIC GROUP – members

share common cultural characteristics or traditions can be same nationality or part of minority group

Sociology: CultureSociology: Culture Culture –Elements unique

and shared with societies, social values and norms

Values – shared standards of what is considered right and morally acceptable This definition of culture

separates it from Anthropology’s definition of culture

Culture –Elements unique and shared with societies, social values and norms

Values – shared standards of what is considered right and morally acceptable This definition of culture

separates it from Anthropology’s definition of culture

NORMSNORMS

compliment values Rules established to indicate what

people should or shouldn’t doEG – Standing for the national anthem

Anthems – are SYMBOLS – represents something else, an idea, quality or condition, understood sometimes only by a society

compliment values Rules established to indicate what

people should or shouldn’t doEG – Standing for the national anthem

Anthems – are SYMBOLS – represents something else, an idea, quality or condition, understood sometimes only by a society

Symbols

Symbols

CultureCulture

We have an evolving culture influenced by change Changes in environment, climate,

demographics, contact with other cultures, technology, new knowledge

We have an evolving culture influenced by change Changes in environment, climate,

demographics, contact with other cultures, technology, new knowledge

Eg. Consider how a Eg. Consider how a computer and the computer and the internet have changed internet have changed your familyyour family’’s dynamic.s dynamic.