Neo-Darwinian Theory and Hunter-Gatherers

Abstract

Neo-Darwinian theories explain macro-level phenomena as the cumulative consequence of explicitly defined processes acting on a micro level, specifically on reproductive individuals. There are currently three schools of neo-Darwinian thought in anthropology: evolutionary archaeology, human behavioral ecology, and cultural transmission theory (sometimes called dual inheritance theory). In this chapter, we deal primarily with human behavioral ecology in which behavior is interpreted in terms of genetic fitness and often modeled using game theory. Central to human behavioral ecological studies is the tension between individual and group interests. We describe the fundamental tenets of human behavioral ecology and explore its advantages and limitations through a variety of models and case studies.