Introductory Sociology: The Social Brain

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Questions and Answers

What is the approximate time period when Homo Sapiens first appeared?

200,000 years ago (correct)

100,000 years ago

250,000 years ago

160,000 years ago

What is the purpose of humans spending about 20% of their time grooming or preening?

To conserve energy

To enhance physical appearance

To release oxytocin and promote bonding (correct)

To regulate body temperature

When did Homo Sapiens begin to develop language?

100,000 years ago

150,000 years ago

130,000 years ago (correct)

200,000 years ago

Why did Homo Sapiens develop language?

Because other humans became the most important part of their environment Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary inherited need of humans, according to the edited Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

Social interaction and communication Signup and view all the answers

What happens to neurons if they can't communicate with other neurons?

They die Signup and view all the answers

What significant change occurred in the human brain around 50,000 years ago?

The brain wiring changed to better process complicated social information Signup and view all the answers

What cultural aspects of human society appeared around 50,000 years ago?

Music, theoretical/abstract thought, man-made beads used as currency, identity, social roles & rules, symbolic cave-art, and thinking beyond the present Signup and view all the answers

What is the reason behind the prefrontal cortex being easily distracted by something new?

It has a novelty bias Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the information when students study and watch TV at the same time?

The information goes into the striatum Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of mirror neurons in altruism?

They enable us to feel sensations that other people feel Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between emotions and rational thinking in our decision-making process?

We are emotional and then rationalize our decisions Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of the neural conduits for transmitting emotional information?

They are faster than those for rational thinking Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the hippocampus in the learning process?

It is where information is organized and categorized for easy retrieval Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of 1500 cubic centimeters in the context of brain size?

It is the brain size of early humans 20,000 years ago. Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of the statement 'I am a Canadian hipster man'?

It is a statement of social production Signup and view all the answers

What is the nature of all human experience according to the text?

It is perceived inside the human brain, but the rules are absorbed from the outside Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key factors that contributed to the decrease in brain size over time?

Development of specialized knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

Where is the earliest known written language, Sumerian, from?

Iraq. Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of multitasking on the brain, according to Earl Miller?

A cognitive cost in doing so. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the hormone that is increased when multitasking, leading to mental fog or scrambled thinking?

Cortisol. Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of multitasking on the brain's reward system?

It creates a dopamine-addiction feedback loop that rewards losing focus. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'Soccer War' between Honduras and El Salvador in 1969?

It is an example of how ideas became powerful enough to cause harm. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason why individuals who were not able to survive by their wits alone could scrape by with the help of others?

Because they were part of complex societies. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Homo sapiens appeared around 200,000 years ago, with big brains, and groups slowly got bigger.
Humans spend about 20% of their time grooming or preening, which releases oxytocin, the "love" or bonding hormone.
This bonding is not genetic, but arises through touch and communication.

The Emergence of Language

Around 130,000 years ago, some Homo sapiens began to talk, using simple, descriptive language.
The need for more efficient "preening" or "grooming" led to the development of communication.
Language became a primary inherited need, as even well-nourished human babies die without social interaction.

The Brain's Adaptation to Sociality

Around 50,000 years ago, the brain changed its wiring to better process complicated social information.
Cultural aspects of human society, such as music, abstract thought, and symbolic cave art, emerged.

The Shrinking Brain

Around 20,000 years ago, the brain began to shrink from 1500 cubic centimeters to below 1400cc.
Reasons for this include specialization and networked thought, as people didn't have to be as smart to survive in complex societies.
Multitasking is making us stupid, as it increases the production of stress hormones and causes mental fog.

We inherited biological traits, such as empathy, altruism, sense of equality, and sense of morality and fairness.
Mirror neurons help us achieve altruism by feeling sensations that others feel.
Emotions are a key aspect of human decision-making, with neural conduits for transmitting emotional information being faster than rational thought.

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Description

Explore the evolution of human social behavior, from the emergence of Homo sapiens to the importance of social bonding and oxytocin.