Human Behaviour Adapted from Animals
The concept of humans mimicking insects was something that sparked my interest. It led me on a journey into the idea that human behaviour is adapted from animals and vice versa. That our actions, or creations as insect world suggest, are replicated throughout multiple species and not just our own.
Smulders talks about this concept in his article By studying animal behaviour we gain an insight into our own, which focuses on the idea that behaviour and actions across species are not limited to a single species.
“they [people] are amazed that any other animals can be as intelligent, emotional or altruistic as humans can be. They never really consider what this comparison means for how we understand ourselves.”
For example Smulder conveys how "human vocal learning" could have evolved from song birds, the concept of 'song learning' influencing the females decision to choose a mate.
Similarly he suggests a link between bees, pigs, and humans when acting pessimistically after events/situations that we know have gone badly.
“What the evolutionary approach allows us to do is to investigate which features or traits are shared with others and what that sharing tells us about the species in question.”
There is an idea within this article and in what Insect Worlds have suggested in their short film, that animals and humans have attributes in common. That there is a connection amongst most species in regards to their actions and behaviours.
Smulder, T (2013), 'By studying animal behaviour we gain an insight into our own', The Conversation, 8 November 2013. Available at:
https://theconversation.com/by-studying-animal-behaviour-we-gain-an-insight-into-our-own-20001 (Accessed on 11 October 2018)