Animal Behaviour

Learning is considered to be a fitness related ability

Young animals live in different environments and inherit traits that proote survival and development

Learning opportunities are provided by the parents

Mammary glands nurture young in primates so they have a long developmental period

Learning plasticity can help with fitness
   - social environment
   - changing ecology
   - developmental trajectory

Evidence of convergent evolution of relative brain size and composition (Corvids, primates)
   - relatively large forebrain
   - social complexity
   - long developmental period

Theory of mind

Helping behaviours
   - Consolation
   - Bytander affiliation

Why
   - Kin selection
   - Reciprocal altruism          These are building blocks for social cohesion and cooperation
   - Cooperating for food

   - Cooperation and exploitation - using young as a ssocial tool

Culture
   - Socially learned
   - Shown by community members
   - Persists through time

Humans are unique because of culmulative culture - social learning makes it easier to learn new things

Foraging
   - Acquire information flexibly
   - Understand concepts (colours, sizes, same and different)

Humans have no difference to apes in terms of cognitive physical world or competition

Primates have complex social groups so intra-group competition (reconciliation, coalition)
   - Socio-positive behaviours displayed linked to competition

Humans have better social cognition skill

• Cooperation
• Collaboration
• Shared intentionality
• Shared cultural information