Mate copying and cultural inheritance

Abstract

I am provoked to comment on Brooks' suggestion[1xBrooks, R. Trends Ecol. Evol. 1998; 13: 45–46Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMedSee all References[1]that mate preferences `can be culturally transmitted' among guppies, because this terminology conflicts with a growing consensus among archeologists, paleoanthropologists, and linguists that this term should be equated with the use of symbols. Thus defined, cultural behavior is unique to our species[2xLindly, J.M. and Clark, G.A. Curr. Anthropol. 1990; 31: 233–240CrossrefSee all References[2]and its acquisition is one of `the major evolutionary transitions in the history of life'[3xJablonka, E. and Szathmary, E. Trends Ecol. Evol. 1995; 10: 206–211Abstract | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (31)See all References[3]. Archeological evidence and theoretical considerations support the validity of this restriction.First, the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition marks a quantum change in human behavior[4xDavidson, I. and Noble, W. Curr. Anthropol. 1989; 30: 125–155CrossrefSee all References[4], implying that `culture rather than biology drove the burst of growth'[5xHarpending, H.C. et al. Curr. Anthropol. 1993; 34: 483–496CrossrefSee all References[5]. Dramatic changes occurred in refinement and diversification of stone and bone technology, emergence of regional styles, elaboration of art, ritual disposal of the dead, and many other traits[6xSee all References[6]. Demographic increase was relieved by expansion into regions lacking essential resources, implying exchanges and standards of value.Second, all these innovations depend on the ability to communicate using symbols[7xByers, A.M. Curr. Anthropol. 1994; 35: 369–400CrossrefSee all References[7]. There is general agreement that `there can be no such thing as culture without language'[4xDavidson, I. and Noble, W. Curr. Anthropol. 1989; 30: 125–155CrossrefSee all References, 8xGoodenough, W.H. Am. Anthrop. 1990; 92: 597–612CrossrefSee all References]. `Humans can speak of the non-existent—words without known referents, sentences contradicting actual experience'[9xSee all References[9]and `we can share those thoughts with one another in ways that no other species even approaches'[10xSee all References[10]. This distinction is important because many components of our behavior, including tool production and use, emotional attachments, forms of nonverbal communication, and social organization, can be transmitted nonsymbolically[8xGoodenough, W.H. Am. Anthrop. 1990; 92: 597–612CrossrefSee all References[8].Explaining our rise to dominance and its implications requires identifying what separates us from other species. Our ability to do so is impeded by ignoring the uniquely human capacity for symbolic communication, and by designating imitation, learning, imprinting, and other nonsymbolic means of altering behavior as cultural.