From Experiential-Based to Relational-Based Forms of Social Organization: A Major Transition in the Evolution of Homo Sapiens
"Social Brain, Distributed Mind", edited by R. Dunbar, C. Gamble & J. Gowlett. Oxford University Press: London (pages 203-234), 2009
32 Pages Posted: 30 Jun 2015
Date Written: July 27, 2009
Abstract
The evolutionary trajectory from non-human to human forms of social organization involves change from experiential to relational-based systems of social interaction. Social organization derived from biologically and experientially grounded social interaction reached a hiatus with the great apes due to expansion of the individualization of behavior. The hiatus ended with the introduction of relational-based social interaction that culminated in social organization based on cultural kinship. This evolutionary trajectory links biological origins to cultural outcomes and makes evident the centrality of distributed forms of information for both the boundary and internal structure of human societies as these evolved from prior forms of social organization.
Keywords: human evolution, cultural evolution, social systems
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation