3 social sciences humanness review
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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
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.