Episode
#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
1:16:45
Published: Sun Dec 02 2018
Description
William Von Hippel is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Queensland and Author of The Social Leap. Today is nothing short of fascinating as we learn the story of how our ancestors went from being chimps in trees to bipedal apes out on the plains and why we took that dangerous step in our development. We discover why our brains more than trebled in size and how that benefited us, what tools and tactics enabled these early humans to survive in a perilous new environment and what the implications are for our modern day minds dealing with primitive motivations. Further Reading: The Social Leap - http://amzn.eu/d/iFGKgsg Check out everything I recommend from books to products and help support the podcast at no extra cost to you by shopping through this link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/modernwisdom - Get in touch. Join the discussion with me and other like minded listeners in the episode comments on the MW YouTube Channel or message me... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ModernWisdomPodcast Email: https://www.chriswillx.com/contact
Chapters
In this podcast, the author Bill von Hippel discusses his new book "The Social Leap" and the scientific research behind the evolution of human social behavior, psychology and happiness.
00:00 - 05:24 (05:24)
Summary
In this podcast, the author Bill von Hippel discusses his new book "The Social Leap" and the scientific research behind the evolution of human social behavior, psychology and happiness.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
Bipedality played a critical role in our evolution by changing our ancestors' bodies to become more effective at throwing and defending against predators.
05:24 - 13:56 (08:32)
Summary
Bipedality played a critical role in our evolution by changing our ancestors' bodies to become more effective at throwing and defending against predators. The chimps in Senegal are a good example of how our ancestors may have survived by skulking around the margins and only attacking predators when necessary.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
The ability to envision unfelt needs was crucial for early humans to develop bipedality and create tools, such as crude spears or clubs, to carry with them for protection and survival.
13:56 - 18:12 (04:15)
Summary
The ability to envision unfelt needs was crucial for early humans to develop bipedality and create tools, such as crude spears or clubs, to carry with them for protection and survival.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
Evolutionary biology shows that our bodies are built to consume protein and we crave it in order to survive.
18:12 - 22:35 (04:22)
Summary
Evolutionary biology shows that our bodies are built to consume protein and we crave it in order to survive. Fast food companies use this to their advantage by hacking our primitive brains and making us crave their high-calorie, high-protein foods.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
A gene known as SRGAP2 emerged over 12 million years ago and duplicated itself about three million years ago, which caused certain changes.
22:35 - 30:42 (08:07)
Summary
A gene known as SRGAP2 emerged over 12 million years ago and duplicated itself about three million years ago, which caused certain changes. It has been suggested that this duplication may have contributed to giving Homo sapiens an evolutionary advantage over other hominids.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
Homo erectus, like chimpanzees and humans, possibly had in-groups and out-groups.
30:42 - 34:19 (03:37)
Summary
Homo erectus, like chimpanzees and humans, possibly had in-groups and out-groups. Evidence of tool marks on bones suggests that they scavenged and hunted together in fission-fusion groups that occasionally separated and came back together.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
The use of gossip to enforce social norms within a group is not unique to humans, as it is also observed in animals such as chimpanzees who have limited communication abilities.
34:19 - 37:57 (03:37)
Summary
The use of gossip to enforce social norms within a group is not unique to humans, as it is also observed in animals such as chimpanzees who have limited communication abilities. Gossip can act as a tool for indirect language and fear of being ousted as a bad apple, which is essential for fair play and upholding social norms.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
Understanding theory of mind allows for effective communication and teaching, as it allows individuals to understand what others do and do not know based on their experiences and perspectives.
37:57 - 42:19 (04:21)
Summary
Understanding theory of mind allows for effective communication and teaching, as it allows individuals to understand what others do and do not know based on their experiences and perspectives.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
As tribes move closer to the equator, there are more pathogens, causing them to stay apart since chances are they haven't been exposed to the same number of pathogens.
42:19 - 50:47 (08:27)
Summary
As tribes move closer to the equator, there are more pathogens, causing them to stay apart since chances are they haven't been exposed to the same number of pathogens. However, the biggest threat to the group comes from other groups of Homo Erectus, not predators like saber tooth tigers and lions.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
Sexual selection is an evolutionary process that depends on our ability to attract opposite sex and compete with same-sex individuals, helping us to not fall behind in the competition for a mate and ensuring the survival of the fittest.
50:47 - 54:42 (03:54)
Summary
Sexual selection is an evolutionary process that depends on our ability to attract opposite sex and compete with same-sex individuals, helping us to not fall behind in the competition for a mate and ensuring the survival of the fittest.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
The behavior of monkeys in experiments shows their capacity to learn and develop expectations about fairness, along with the evolutionary process that leads to certain physical traits.
54:42 - 1:01:57 (07:15)
Summary
The behavior of monkeys in experiments shows their capacity to learn and develop expectations about fairness, along with the evolutionary process that leads to certain physical traits.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
The human frontal cortex gives us the ability to control our unconscious mind, which evolved in a different world.
1:01:57 - 1:08:40 (06:43)
Summary
The human frontal cortex gives us the ability to control our unconscious mind, which evolved in a different world. Though we kid ourselves into believing we're more in control of our unconscious than we really are, we can still regain some control over our minds by acknowledging and utilizing our frontal cortex.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
In this podcast, the speaker discusses the importance of the combination of individual brains and human's capacity to work together, which has led to the success of Homo sapiens.
1:08:40 - 1:14:56 (06:15)
Summary
In this podcast, the speaker discusses the importance of the combination of individual brains and human's capacity to work together, which has led to the success of Homo sapiens. The speaker also discusses the rapid changes in AI and whether there will be a new Homo species in the future.
Episode#041 - William Von Hippel - The Social Leap; How We Evolved From Tree Swinging to Human Being
PodcastModern Wisdom
William Von Hippel talks about his book "The Social Leap" and its release in the US, UK and other parts of the world.
1:14:57 - 1:16:31 (01:34)
Summary
William Von Hippel talks about his book "The Social Leap" and its release in the US, UK and other parts of the world. He mentions that his book tour has been successful and that the easiest way to find him is by googling his name.