Peggy,
Re: your comment on Russ's comment: I think there is a distinction to be made here between research on contemporary humans and research that attempts to get at the selection pressures that made contemporary humans what they are today. To say that human beings don't profit from being in isolated groups is no argument against the evolutionary idea that we are the way we are today because of peculiarities of our evolutionary past. The selection pressures that made us may have relaxed. Nick From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of peggy miller Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 1:45 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [FRIAM] vol 98, iss.25 psychology cont'd At the risk of being too thorough, I wanted to comment on Russ's point: "For example, group members will often favor other group members over > outsiders even if the outsider is the better choice for the individual > to make on some objective basis. This is often an evolved preference ."> Groups that are successful in having their members behave in this way > have a better chance to survive as a group." I would add the word "temporarily" at the end of Ross's last quoted sentence. Over time, groups that do not allow "outsiders" in, tend to be inbred and develop major genetic problems and often die out or remain very very small in number due to losing most of members from either genetically inherited health problems or members moving due to boredom with group cause of lack of original thought included into their overall thinking or due to economically frozen structure. I think it is argued in Emergence theory that those behaviors that are sort of "beyond the pale", that operate on the fringe, tend to help the central group develop better as they witness these more unusual forms of behavior. Peggy -- Peggy Miller, owner/OEO Highland Winds wix.com/peggymiller/highlandwinds Shop is at 1520 S. 7th St. W. (Just off Russell, four blocks from Good Food Store) Art, Photography, Herbs and Writings 406-541-7577 (home/office/shop) Shop Hours: Tues/Wed: 12-4 Thurs: 3-7 pm Fri-Sat: 10 am -2pm
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