The Origin of Human Theory-of-Mind

Humans, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5(1), P. 5 - 5

Published: Feb. 12, 2025

Is there a qualitative difference between apes’ and humans ‘ability to estimate others’ mental states’, a.k.a. ‘Theory-of-Mind’? After opting for the idea that expectations are empty profiles recognize particular content when it arrives, I apply same description ‘vicarious expectations’—very probably present in apes. Thus, (empty) vicarious one’s (full) contents distinguished without needing meta-representation. Then, propose: First, enough support Theory-of-Mind (including ‘spontaneous altruism’). Second, since require profile previously built subject activates them, this cannot activate any expectation of states intrinsically impossible him. Third, your think me as distal individual me, therefore, must contents. This ability (the original nucleus human Theory-of-Mind) is essential lifestyle. It involved unpleasant pleasant self-conscious emotions, which respectively contribute ‘social order’ cultural innovations. More basically, makes possible (prelinguistic or linguistic) communication, originally made understanding addressed therefore me.

Language: Английский

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The evolution of human music in light of increased prosocial behavior: a new model

Published: Jan. 9, 2022

Together with language, music is perhaps our most distinctive behavioral trait. Following the lead of paleolinguistic research, different hypotheses have been proposed to explain why only humans perform and how this ability might evolved in species. In paper, we advance a new model evolution that builds on theory self-domestication, according which human phenotype is, at least part, outcome process similar mammal domestication, triggered by progressive reduction reactive aggression levels response environmental changes. specifically argue changes management through course cultural can account for behaviors conducive emergence music. We hypothesize 4 stages evolutionary development under influence social organization: starting from musilanguage, proto-music gave rise personal private forms timbre-oriented music, then small-group ensembles pitch-oriented first indefinite definite pitch, finally collective (tonal) These parallel what has hypothesized languages encompass diversity types genres described worldwide. Overall, complexity emerges gradual fashion effects enhanced abilities niche construction, resulting stable trend towards end Pleistocene, leading hospitality codes, succeeded increase proactive beginning Holocene onward. This paper addresses numerous controversies literature providing clear structural definition identifying its features distinguish it oral summarizing typology operational functions formats transmission. The framework approach arms researcher means identify comparatively analyze schemes tonal organization placing them context evolution. Especially valuable contribution understanding transition animal communication language so-called “personal song”, analyzed here ethological, social, cultural, cognitive, musicological perspectives. song into institution are interlinked kinship placed timeline evolution, based totality ethnographic, archaeological, anthropological, genetic, paleoclimatic data.

Language: Английский

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Nocturnal selective pressures on the evolution of human musicality as a missing piece of the adaptationist puzzle

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14

Published: Oct. 4, 2023

Human musicality exhibits the necessary hallmarks for biological adaptations. Evolutionary explanations focus on recurrent adaptive problems that human possibly solved in ancestral environments, such as mate selection and competition, social bonding/cohesion grooming, perceptual motor skill development, conflict reduction, safe time-passing, transgenerational communication, mood regulation synchronization, credible signaling of coalition territorial/predator defense. Although not mutually exclusive, these different hypotheses are still conceptually integrated nor clearly derived from independent principles. I propose The Nocturnal Evolution Musicality Performativity Theory which night-time is missing piece adaptationist puzzle performing arts. expansion nocturnal activities throughout evolution, tied to tree-to-ground sleep transition habitual use fire, might help (i) explain evolution principles, (ii) various seemingly unrelated music features functions, (iii) integrate many values proposed. into niche posed challenges/opportunities: lack luminosity, regrouping cook before sleep, imminent dangerousness, low temperatures, peak tiredness, concealment identity. These crucial have selected evening-oriented individuals who were prone acoustic more alert imaginative, gregarious, risk-taking novelty-seeking, anxiety modulation, hedonistic, promiscuous, disinhibited. Those dispositions may converged enhanced protomusicality by facilitating it assume survival- reproduction-enhancing roles (social cohesion coordination, coalitions, territorial defense, antipredatorial knowledge transference, passage time, children lullabies, sexual selection) correspondent co-occurring challenges/opportunities. dynamic musical (sound, loudness, repetitiveness, call response, song, elaboration/virtuosity, duetting/chorusing). Across vertebrates, communication mostly occurs species. eveningness chronotype common among musicians composers. Adolescents, most humans, enjoy music. Contemporary tribal around campfire involve eating, singing/dancing, storytelling, rituals. discuss integration musicality's conclude probably a multifunctional mental adaptation evolved along with landscape.

Language: Английский

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How music-induced emotions affect sexual attraction: evolutionary implications

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: April 10, 2024

More than a century ago, Darwin proposed putative role for music in sexual attraction (i.e., sex appeal), hypothesis that has recently gained traction the field of psychology. In his writings, particularly emphasized charming aspects music. Across broad range cultures, profound impact on humans' feelings, thoughts and behavior. Human mate choice is determined by interplay several factors. A number studies have shown musicality ability to produce enjoy music) exert positive influence evaluation potential partners. Here, we critically review latest empirical literature how why affect considering music-induced emotion arousal listeners as well other socio-biological mechanisms. Following short overview current theories about origins musicality, present examine different social settings. We differentiate between emotion-based influences related subjective experience sound effects associated with perceived musical or creativity partner. By integrating using various behavioral methods, link research strands investigate suggest promising avenues future research.

Language: Английский

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Human musical capacity and products should have been induced by the hominin‐specific combination of several biosocial features: A three‐phase scheme on socio‐ecological, cognitive, and cultural evolution

Evolutionary Anthropology Issues News and Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(4)

Published: May 17, 2024

Abstract Various selection pressures have shaped human uniqueness, for instance, music. When and why did musical universality diversity emerge? Our hypothesis is that “music” initially originated from manipulative calls with limited elements. Thereafter, vocalizations became more complex flexible along a greater degree of social learning. Finally, constructed instruments the language faculty resulted in diverse context‐specific Music precursors correspond to vocal communication among nonhuman primates, songbirds, cetaceans. To place this scenario hominin history, three‐phase scheme music evolution presented herein. We emphasize (1) sociality life history australopithecines, (2) cognitive learning abilities early/middle Homo , (3) cultural evolution, primarily sapiens . Human capacity products should be due hominin‐specific combination several biosocial features, including bipedalism, stable pair bonding, alloparenting, expanded brain size, sexual selection.

Language: Английский

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Revisiting the hypothesis of ideophones as windows to language evolution

Linguistics Vanguard, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 23, 2024

Abstract Ideophones stand out as promising constructions to be considered linguistic “fossils”. Allegedly, this is due some of their distinctive features, including sound-symbolic nature, ample use reduplication, reliance on the simplest combinatorial processes, attachment emotional content, and presumed bootstrapping effects language acquisition. These features might exhibit continuity with primate communication systems, co-occurrence gestures. Because nature complexity ideophones in modern languages can vary significantly from culture culture, paper, we focus links cross-modality, ultimately, how they are processed by brain our evolved. We embed analysis framework human self-domestication hypothesis, according which evolution was characterized a gradual decrease reactive aggression, had an impact cognitive behavioural features. Our implicates cortico-striatal networks, whose enhanced connectivity mechanism for both suppression cross-modality processing more generally. In conclusion, even though present-day certainly show many new complexities, most basic reconstructed approximations early (but not archaic), creative uses language.

Language: Английский

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Hominin musical sound production: palaeoecological contexts and self domestication

Anthropological Review, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 87(2), P. 17 - 61

Published: July 2, 2024

In this article we seek to integrate theories of music origins and dance with hominin fossil anatomy the paleoecological contexts evolution. Based on association between rhythm in music, locomotion, propose that early bipedal hominins may have evolved neurobiological substrates different from other great apes due rhythmic aspects walking running. Combined emancipation hands resulting erect posture, changes necessary for technological innovation, cultural practices human musical abilities evolved, at least incipient form, much earlier than previously thought. The consequent ability synchronize movement sound production also proved beneficial as ventured out late Miocene Pliocene woodland forested habitats into more open increased predation risk. We postulate that, along bipedalism, paedomorphic morphogenesis skull base clade was a prerequisite evolution vocal modulation singing later varieties hominin. To date research has yet be integrated evidence This paper seeks fill lacuna extant literature suggest autocatalytic feedback loops evolving synergistically hand morphology, neurochemical processes self-domestication syndrome, been operative some 6 Ma present. document process by reference primatological, ethnographic, archaeological data.

Language: Английский

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The evolution of human music in light of increased prosocial behavior: a new model

Physics of Life Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 51, P. 114 - 228

Published: Dec. 28, 2023

Language: Английский

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Revisiting the hypothesis of ideophones as windows to language evolution: The human self-domestication perspective

Published: Aug. 5, 2023

Abstract Ideophones stand out as promising constructions to be considered linguistic “fossils”. Allegedly, this is due some of their distinctive features, including sound-symbolic nature, ample use reduplication, reliance on the simplest combinatorial processes, attachment emotional content, and presumed bootstrapping effects language acquisition. These features might exhibit continuity with primate communication systems, reported co-occurrence gestures. Given that nature complexity ideophones in modern languages can vary significantly from culture culture, paper, we focus links cross-modality, ultimately, how they are processed by brain our evolved. We embed analysis framework human self-domestication (HSD) hypothesis, according which evolution was characterized a gradual decrease reactive aggression, impacting cognitive behavioural features. Our implicates cortico-striatal networks, whose enhanced connectivity mechanism for both suppression cross-modality processing more generally. In conclusion, even though present-day certainly show many new complexities, most basic reconstructed approximations early, creative uses language.

Language: Английский

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A philosophical analysis of the emergence of language

Theoria, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 90(1), P. 30 - 55

Published: Nov. 20, 2023

Abstract There is a research programme in linguistics that founded on describing language as an emergent phenomenon. This paper clarifies how the core concept of emergence deployed this emergentist programme. We show if one adopts weak understandings emergence, not fundamentally different from other non‐emergentist programmes linguistics. On hand, stronger then would have unique character, but at cost some corollaries (philosophical, only) which linguists seemingly want to avoid. emergentists accept those corollaries, resulting hypothetical be totally its present shape. conclude programme, it stands, should either abandoned or reshaped both theory and methodology.

Language: Английский

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