enculturation&evolution

[twiter]

Numerous species congregate for various purposes and causes among which is congregation for competitive sexual selection.
  Congregation for competitive sexual selection can evolve into congregation as competitive sexual selection.  Whereupon, all traits conducive to congregation (i.e., socialization/enculturation) become subject to the evolutionary influence of competitive sexual selection, re: Darwin.
  Regard socialization/enculturation as the competitive expression, regardless of the basic nature of the culture.
  The essential function of enculturation is regulation of intra species competition.
  Many primates (among other species) express a culture of dominace.  The basic style of human culture(s) is diversity and disparity (between individuals)of apparent competitive capacity.
   Dependence is a drive.  It is not a disorder.  It can not exist as a condition without behavioral support for the condition.
   Dependence drive has bimodal expression.  The primary expression of, by the neonate, elicits the secondary expression of by the parent.  The period of neonatal/infantile dependence cannot extend beyond the capacity of the parental expression. 
  Dependence drive is at least equally influential upon evolutionary trends as is sexual selection.


  please note;  this is a public access terminal at a public library.  I have access generaly for one or two hours per week only,  usually Mondays.   

[twiter]

Addendums;
1, there's more of this available.
2, if anybody's interested.
3, besides myself.
4, re: 2.

[trehinp]

Excellent topic.

This is indeed an aspect that is key to explain some apparent anomalies of the evolutionary process. Several fossils of Homo Sapiens Sapiens, and even Neanderthals have shown that some individuals with severe injuries were protected by the group. These individuals wouldn't have survived without a culture that valued human life enough to take care of one of its members even though this member had become a burden to the group. It is also a sign that the social organisation of the tribe would allow for some accommodations in the role of such individuals in the society.

This analysis of group culture may also account for the survival of phenotypes which otherwise wouldn't have stood the faintest chance to survive in the evolutionary process. This is the case for conditions such as schizophrenia or autism, to quote two that I am more familiar with.

In addition, I think that the group culture may have been capable of detecting some useful skills for the tribe among such individuals. There are indeed among people with schizophrenia or autism a few individuals whose skills can be considered quite exceptional. So the group, probably with the advice of a "wise man or woman" (Shaman or sorcerer), would have valued the potential skills in such children and perhaps even nurtured them.

Such cultural behaviour could explain how some phenotypes have been able to be perpetuated against all ordinary evolutionary odds...

I would be interested by more info on this subject, and I could share what I have on my side.

Yours sincerely.

Paul