Human ethology

The Human Ethology is a branch of behavioral biology,. Against the background that man is the result of a long evolutionary line of development, in particular explored those behaviors of our species, which can be regarded as innate, or have the innate foundations The modern human ethology refers to both the results of classical ethology, sociobiology, and, for example, the learning theory (see, for example, proximate and ultimate causes of behavior). The most famous German -speaking researchers and founder of this area is Irenaeus Eibl- Eibesfeldt. Technically "related " habilitated scientists in Germany, for example: Norbert Bischof, Doris Bischof- Köhler, Karl Grammer, Gabriele Haug - beak and Wulf Schiefenhövel.

This search for human behaviors that occur in approximately the same expression in different cultures, has repeatedly provoked spirited out disputes. Because it contradicts already in the beginning beliefs, according to which a man is determined solely by education (ie through learning ) in its development.

Meanwhile, however, the insight has become widely prevailed that innate bases of behavior ( for example, the control of the facial muscles when smiling ) and learned patterns of behavior common human behavior shapes: Through education and culture, for example congenital basics that are socially and psycho- hygienic advantageous for part strengthened; others turn out as many burdens that can hinder social interaction, and are often culturally weakened and oppressed.

Research methods and topics

From the evolutionary history of man derivable, innate behaviors are investigated by the Humanethologen with different research approaches:

• Innate behavior in newborns: In newborns, for example, could be demonstrated that they cling without any prior experience, which could be explained by learning to breathe spontaneously, on thin objects ( even on free-hanging clothes lines! ) With your hands and scream out loud. For deafblind children born of proof could be made ​​that they laugh as sighted and hearing children, cry, blush and dominate the characteristic facial expressions of laying one - these behaviors are included without learning Verhaltensrepertoir of man.

• Innate knowledge services: Studies on the innate recognition of certain behaviors ( specifically: the facial expressions of other people) have made it very probable that people (for example, the relative height of the nose in relation to the eyes) interpret certain stimulus features without specific prior experience in a certain way - and that, therefore, the camel is seen as " arrogant " because it contributes to the eyes, the nose in relation very high up on the head.

In empirical research of this kind, human ethology is an attempt to trace the foundations of cultural traditions related to inherited blocks of behavior. Thus, inter alia, the willingness to obey and obedience, but also the pursuit of recognition, the intolerance of outsiders, but also the tendency to selflessness and for making friendly contacts were attributed to other people on inherited, ie biologically explainable mechanisms. Such very broad statements that were also hardly ever supported by clear experimental evidence, however, are controversial.

In the human ethological research continue behaviors are in part not only in the context of their opponent ( or antagonists, such as aggression and inhibition of aggression ) were examined, but also in their entanglement with learning ( eg, life history, " instinct - cultural entanglements " ) and with the intellect ( Nikolaas Tinbergen, Nicolai Hartmann).

Human Ethology in archeology

Developed in the 1970s, concepts of Kulturethologie and the meme have already led archaeologists shortly afterwards to think about new approaches to the explanation handing down Paleolithic tools. Artifacts (such as hand axes ) are not only tools, but also a bearer memetic transported traditions and reflect a collective memory of Homo erectus resist. This approach implied the possibility of the contrary: bifaces arise from ethological obvious knowledge services, without being necessarily passed on.

International was observed which appeared in 1986 work by Joachim Hahn on the theory that the body language of small art works of the Aurignacian of the Swabian Alb transported force and aggression, which is derived from the transfer of animal defense or attack poses on the manufacturers of the figures. Thus, a plausible link from ethological characteristics of an animal totems for his support was prepared.

Around the same time, researchers led by David Lewis -Williams for the first time an approach to interpretation of Paleolithic petroglyphs and cave paintings before, compared the ethological aspects of trance states in works of art of the Upper Paleolithic with recent appearances. The exploration of such humanethologisch derivable (because neurobiologically related ) states of consciousness of prehistoric people is also described as "cognitive archeology ".

With the establishment of the Human Ethology as an independent science, interest is increasingly focused on concrete gestures and body language in prehistoric art works, especially the Neolithic and more recent prehistoric eras. The introduction of the topic in archaeological literature was thereby significantly from Humanethologen itself. Only recently humanethologische findings on the interpretation of archaeological finds are used.