#  Behavioral Biology and Cultural Evolution 

 



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   ![behavioralbioimg.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum1771/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/heb.harvard.edu/files/behavioralbioimg_0.jpg?itok=e9f4kwlF) 

 

Among both diverse human populations and non-human primates, HEB research on behavioral biology and culture applies evolutionary theory to understanding distinctive aspects of behavior, cognition, and motivations using a full range of methods drawn from across the biological and social sciences, including field observation, experimental tools, biological sampling, ethnographic techniques, comparative approaches and mathematical modeling.

Major research topics include:

- Behavioral ecology of chimpanzees and bonobos
- Mechanisms underlying cooperation and competition in the genus Pan
- Evolution of human diet, including consequences of food-processing
- Evolution of violence
- Evolution of peace and tolerant intergroup relationships
- Cognitive evolution in humans and other primates
- Comparative cognitive development across the lifespan
- Canids as a comparative model for primate evolution
- Behavioral biology of mother’s milk in humans and primates
- Parental care and infant behavior in mammals
- Comparative development of personality & temperament
- Evolution and development of capacities for social learning
- Cultural evolution, including technology, kinship, religion, and marriage
- Evolution of social status, including prestige, dominance and leadership
- Evolution and development of cooperation, prosocial motivations and norms
- Human psychological diversity
- Gene-culture coevolution



 

##  Associated Faculty 

 [Rachel Carmody](/people/rachel-carmody)

 [Erin Hecht](/people/erin-hecht)

 [Joseph Henrich](/people/joseph-henrich)

 [Martin Surbeck](/people/martin-surbeck)

 [Richard Wrangham](/people/richard-w-wrangham)



 

##  Associated Laboratories 

[Cognitive Evolution Group](/cognitive-evolution-group)

[Culture, Cognition and Coevolution](/culture-cognition-and-coevolution-lab)

[Evolutionary Neuroscience](https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/evolutionaryneurosciencelab/home)

[Nutritional Ecology](/nutritional-ecology-lab)

[Pan Lab](https://kokolopori.hsites.harvard.edu/)