Question

It has been suggested that exhibition of culture is a defining characteristic that sets primates apart from other animals. How do cultural behaviors differ from innate behaviors, and what is the major vehicle of cultural transmission between individuals? What examples of culture have we seen among various primate species in this class?

Answer 1

Cultural behaviors differ from innate behaviors and are transmitted through social learning. Examples of culture have been observed in various primate species.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cultural behaviors differ from innate behaviors in that innate behaviors are genetically inherited and instinctual, while cultural behaviors are learned and transmitted between individuals. The major vehicle of cultural transmission between individuals is through social learning, where knowledge and behaviors are acquired by observing and imitating others.

Examples of culture among various primate species:

• In chimpanzees, researchers have observed behaviors such as tool use, making and using spears for hunting, and grooming practices that vary across different groups.
• In orangutans, cultural differences have been seen in tool use for extracting honey from trees, where populations from different regions have different techniques for this behavior.
• In capuchin monkeys, researchers have observed cultural behaviors such as cracking nuts using stone tools, again with variation depending on the group.