Primate Societies

(4 Credits)

Examines the social interactions of nonhuman primates from an evolutionary perspective, with a special focus on the roles that kinship and the social environment play in the development and expression of social behavior. Introduces relevant contemporary theoretical perspectives, including biological markets and social network theory, that complement traditional sociobiological approaches. Topics for discussion include dominance interactions; territoriality and inter-group aggression; coalitions, alliances, and other cooperative behavior; paternal care and cooperative breeding; and inter-sexual conflict.