Foraging complexity and the evolution of childhood

Science Advances • Vol/Iss. 8(41) • American Association for the Advancement of Science • • Published In • Pages: eabn9889 •
By Pretelli, Ilaria, Ringen, Erik J. , Lew-Levy, Sheina

Abstract

Why do humans have long childhoods and slow physical growth rates compared to nonhuman primates? The embodied capital theory (ECT) posits that the hard-to-extract, energy-packed resources sought by humans require more complex cognitive and physical skills, which are acquired during a longer development period. The authors of this article test this theory through a comparative analysis of different forms of resource types and skill level by age in 28 different societies. Their findings support ECT, suggesting that long childhoods evolved as a period to develop the skills required for extracting complex resources in foraging societies.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Compiled datasetResearchers' ownObservations from 28 societies collected through a systematic search using major search engines (Google Scholar, JSTOR, PsycNet, ScienceDirect, Springer, and Wiley).

Hypotheses (2)

HypothesisSupported
Peak foraging productivity is attained in adulthood for skill-intensive resources such as tubers and game.Supported
Adult levels of foraging productivity are achieved by adolescence for easier to extract resources such as fruit and fish. Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: isanaraja