Neoteny and Human Evolution

http://www.neoteny.org. Human evolution influenced by neoteny may be based on the art of dance. Runaway sexual selection may have encouraged dance. This video shows how by understanding Balyaev Russian silver fox studies we can estimate how the infants of our chimpanzee or bonobo like ancestors evolved ancestor infant features into current human adults. Human evolution, dance and runaway sexual selection may have evolved our big brains into existence. This video suggests that neoteny may be central to understanding how humans evolved big brains by exploring Balyaev Russian silver fox experiments taking into consideration bonobos and chimpanzee physiology and behavior. Inspired by the work of Geoffrey Miller, Sarah Blaffer Hrdy and Jane Goodall, visit neoteny.org to download for free the book this video comes from, Evolution, Autism and Social Change by Andrew Lehman. Text version of video here http://bit.ly/ctWg97.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• human evolution
• neoteny
• sexual selection
• evolution
• the commons
• heterochrony

[yahlers]

i think he's using dancing as a metaphor for skill.

[saxquiz]

I like the idea but I think it places too much emphasis on dancing. Dancing is not such an integral part of our society as this video makes it out to be. People don't choose sexual partners based on whether or not they like the way the person dances.

[thenfm]

keeping cunts in check: MANHOOD101. COM

[soldierofdec]

So thats why ppl go to nightclubs and prance around like retards.

[TheNarcMan]

The whole dancing thing may have spread out into things like music, art, sport, academics etc because human complexity has given us individual tastes to appreciate all the new abilities we have become good at.

[eastgoast]

What is your view on McKenna's 'Stoned Ape Theory', if you don't mind me asking?

[TheCasperBug]

@marktsheppard Never under estimate one theory using another. Some elements of theories are true and some aren't, perhaps both yours and this theory play a role in a much bigger and complex picture.

[TheCasperBug]

This is interesting though because children who have been introduced to music and developed musical skill tend to have a faster learning capacity and more dexterous motor skills.

[TheCasperBug]

I think to much emphasis is based on dance itself, but certainly the basic instinct to survive and compete can be pushed from primal actions into more sophisticated and developed skills through competition for mates, developing increasingly higher standards. Although I do believe that dance is not present in all contemporary society. Music, rhythm and certain musical tones do seem to evoke a deeper primal instinct in most modern humans which does not seem to have much explanation?

[vsnlollipop]

and now make us evolve into foxes

[hiddel2003]

Very interesting theory. I Heard about the silver fox experiment during an interview between Penn Gelete Richard Dawkins(atleast i think thats who it was). I'm glad I decided to check it out!