Evolution Social Systems - Softcover

Scott, John Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 2881243584 ISBN 13: 9782881243585

Publisher: Routledge, 1989

Synopsis

First published in 1989. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

About this title

Synopsis

In this book J.P.Scott combines genetic theories of evolution, systems theory, and theories of behavioural evolution to explain the evolution of social behaviour and organization. He proposes that caregiving has evolved from self care, to care of fertilized eggs, to developing embryos, to hatchings. Care may then be extended to adult offspring, collateral relatives and to unrelated others. Humans, Scott shows, are unique in the degree to which caregiving behaviour is extendable to non-related humans, other animals as pets, and even to plants. He concludes that social organization is based on caregiving as well as processes such as unconscious physiological co-operation, site attachment, sexual behaviour, defensive behaviour, competition and conflict. Competition is thus not the sole mode of evolution. This view challenges some of the conventional sociobiological theories of the evolution of altruism. The book's broad interdisciplinary scope and social relevance has significant import for the general reader as well as for researchers and students in evolution, animal behaviour, ecology, psychobiology, and the human sciences of anthropology, political science, and sociology.

About the Author

Scott is Regents Professor emerits in psychology at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 2881243584
• ISBN 13: 9782881243585
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 363