Explain how one principle of the biological level of analysis may be demonstrated in one empirical

Darwin had a theory that organisms that can adapt better to their environment are more likely to reproduce, obtain food, survive better, and pass on their traits to their offspring; this theory is called natural selection. Natural selection allows

Humans and Chimpanzees are more alike than most people think, specifically, in regards to behavioral characteristics. This paper will attempt to highlight some of these characteristics. We will compare and contrast the social dynamics, eating habits, the use of tools as well has various forms of communication used by chimpanzees and humans. Findings will suggest that human behavior is linked to a common ancestor to humans and chimpanzees.

Whether in the wild or in captivity, chimpanzees will benefit from the behaviors of other chimpanzees in a social learning environment (Hirata, 2009). Chimpanzees in the wild are known for behaviors involving tool use such as nut cracking, ant dipping, termite fishing, pestle pounding and many other techniques (Tonooka, Tomonaga & Matsuzawa, 1997). The skills are seen to be transferred culturally between communities and across many generations. An example of tool use behavior was studied in West Africa, where chimpanzees are known to crack nuts using stone or wooden tools. In Bossou, chimpanzees crack the nut Elaeis Guineensis” which is an oil palm nut, whereas in the Nimba mountains 10 km away from Bossou, chimpanzees would crack a doula nut called Coula edulis. Matsuzawa and others experimented by giving the doula nut to the Bossou chimpanzees, who had never seen or eaten this type of nut before. Besides one adult female, most of the chimpanzees sniffed the nut, picked it up but did not eat it or try and crack the shell. Through observational learning of the adult female that cracked the nut right away, two chimpanzees learned to crack the new nut that was put in their environment. This proved the first evidence of cultural transmission between communities and generations, where the adult chimpanzee grew up in a community nearby that had the same tradition of doula

Within this essay, we will study more in depth the behavioral as well as physical traits of two primates at a zoo from their interaction with their peers to their place in the group. This observation would enable us to further understand the possible existing correlation between humans and primates. First, I studied a female chimpanzee with her baby, and then, a dominant male gorilla, in San Francisco Zoo at about noon, on May 23, 2015, for an hour each. Even though they share some similarities such as having a large brain, living for a long time, and being bored in their enclosure, they are still different; when gorillas are the largest, chimpanzees are the smartest. In fact, chimps use tools to catch food, they would not be able to reach

Learning by observation is a type of learning in which an individual observes the behavior of others, sees the consequences of the behaviors, and then attempts to carry out the same behavior. Social learning is based on the standards of classical and operant conditioning and observational learning. It is a commonly shared belief that people have an instinctive ability to imitate the behavior of others. However, this ability is not unique to humans. Animals have also showed evidence of being able to mimic humans and other animals (Mazur, 2013). Chimpanzees, or Pan Troglodytes, have demonstrated social learning through many different experiments in different settings. Chimpanzees have shown the ability to observe the behavior of a model and reproduce the behavior. However, chimpanzees have also demonstrated the mental capacity of understanding when behaviors do not elicit a desired reaction and not repeating these behaviors under these circumstances. This paper will focus on chimpanzees and their ability to learn new behaviors through social learning.

The main assumption of the biological approach is behaviour and experiences can be explained by biological changes in the body. This approach focusses on the investigation of the brain, nervous system and other biological factors such as hormones; whereas the main assumption of the cognitive approach is that information received from our senses is processed by the brain and that this processing influences how we behave or at least justifies how we behave the way we do. Cognitive processes are examples of hypothetical constructs – researchers cannot directly observe processes such as thinking but we can infer what a person is thinking based on how they act (behavioural patterns). Some key researchers in the biological approach are Maguire et. Al (2000) - Navigation-related structural changes in the hippocampi of taxi drivers, and Sperry (1968) - Hemisphere disconnection and unity in consciousness. Some key researchers in the cognitive approach are Loftus and Palmer (1974) - eyewitness testimony and Baron-Cohen (1997) – Autism.

He finally observed that overtime these birds developed different physical characteristics to help them be able to survive and adapt to their surroundings. Darwin developed the “Natural Selection” theory that stated that plants and animals adapt to their surroundings and environments in order to survive. He also stated that older generations of these species would eventually die out, because they do not have the newer characteristics that needed to be developed in order to live.

In the book “Through a Window” by Jane Goodall, Goodall tells the reader about her experience when studying chimpanzees in Gombe for thirty years. Goodall explains how chimpanzees and humans are very much alike, not only in DNA structure but also in social behavior, intelligent ability, and emotions. Goodall talks about these similarities throughout the book. Chimpanzees can use tools, have social organization, have a way to communicate, a similar diet, and locomotion all of which show how humans and chimpanzees are more closely related then what was originally thought.

Studies of apes and other primates have revealed that patterns of social engagement and use of tools seemed to have been derived from traditions of specific groups, rather than from a biologically determined script. This shows that these actions are not biologically innate to primates, and instead are being learned and passed down from generation to generation indicating culture-based tendencies. Studies from different parts of the world have revealed variation in behavior and sophistication. These variations in behavior are indicated as being cultural because they are learned habits rather than being genetically programmed.

The biological approach which is the oldest approach, stems from the study of biology and the work of Charles Darwin (1809). It wasn’t until the 20th century that biological psychology occurred as a science, prior to this the connection between the brain, mind and body was not understood. The biological approach focuses on genetics and how they affect an individual’s behaviour and the brain and nervous system, primarily the central nervous system. The brain has three main parts the Cerebrum which is split into two halves which determines thoughts and memories, the cerebellum which is responsible for actions and movement and the brain stem which governs basic functions such as breathing. The central nervous system is a part of the nervous system which is located in the brain and spinal cord and all information sent here is acted upon.

“Chimpanzees, gorillas and orang-utans are our closest relatives, sharing 98-99% of our DNA,” They are so similar to us in so many ways that we should be able to understand that when located in a completely unfamiliar environment that they cannot understand they are likely to react fiercely so not only do we share ’98-99%’ of their DNA but they are now being advanced and thrust to their limits where they are skilled to learn our language to communicate, moreover they are likely to be capable of “solving complex cooperation and social

Jane Goodall’s article “The Mind of the Chimpanzee” explores her experiences with man’s closest genetic relative. Goodall’s field studies in Gombe, Tanzania brought her a greater understanding of the mental similarities between humans and chimpanzees. She specifically discusses their complex emotions, mental ability, understanding of American Sign Language (ASL), and even their use and understanding of tools. While the evidence was clear, Goodall battled the scientific community for years. Many argued that animals were incapable of having humane thoughts or individual personalities.

More significantly, one of the very few things that set us apart from our counterparts – cooking - is not so exclusive. Although chimpanzees cannot cook food on their own, the study shows that chimpanzees have an understanding of what cooking is. Also, chimpanzees have the cognitive skills necessary to prefer the cooked food when given the chance. Due to the competitive nature of chimpanzees, however, it is proposed that it is impossible for chimpanzees to have developed the social skills necessary to cook.

The chicken and chimpanzee have adapted specific behaviours to aid and increase their survival ratings within their environment. Figure 1 and 2 illustrates the key differences within their central nervous system such as the component sizes and specific components which are only found within one of the species (Ackerman and Aspinall, 2016, Dyce, K.M. et al,

Charles Darwin broached the theory of natural selection in his book the Origin of Species, which has been considered the basis of evolutionary biology to this day. Natural selection is when populations of a species evolve over the course of many generations. Darwin believed that species were not created separately, but instead, species were derived from one another. In other words, the evolution of species creates many variations among creatures, and this is because all of those species came from a common ancestor, and characteristics changed to increase the species chance of survival.