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Dimensions of a comparative biology of primate groups
Author(s) -
Kummer Hans
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330270308
Subject(s) - primate , biology , function (biology) , social group , evolutionary biology , anthropology , psychology , social psychology , sociology , neuroscience
The possible contributions of a comparative study of primate social organization to anthropology are many. Such a study may elucidate the repertory of motivational and organizational raw materials present among primates; it may show us the forms of society that have evolved from this raw material; it may show us the kinds of inhibitions and functional readjustments of phylogenetically old motivations that lead to the types of societies found among primates. These general aims are based upon analysis of specific primate groups. The analysis of a primate group as a functioning system leads to consideration of the anatomy and physiology of groups, the reasons for differences in types of groups, the ontogeny of a group, environmental modifications of types of groups, and the evolution of the adaptive function of groups.