Primate Culture: A Narrative Analysis

Today, the brain is said to be the most energy consuming and powerful organ in the body. Not only has the cranium grown tremendously over the years, but the brain processes have intensified as well. Cáceres states that with the various studies made by professionals to distinguish the human brain from a non-human primate’s brain, we have been given proof of the advanced neurological processes that the primate brain contains. (Cáceres, 2003) Along with these processes, primate intelligence has advanced through the development of cultural interactions, advanced tool and food technology, and through the progression of movement.

The high intelligence of primates has been a factor to the expansion and development of primate culture. In Primate Cognition,

For our survival, we would do anything, even if it means transforming our way of life. The exploitation of new movement has been possible due to emergence of new tools. (Steele, 2011) As studied in Evolutionary Anthropology class, the ability for primates to walk bipedally isn’t a coincidence. It is proof of the adaptations we had to encounter as we fought to survive many obstacles over the years. Survival adaptions were produced by larger and faster predators and the necessity to learn to survive on the ground, rather than staying high up in the trees away from dangerous enemies. The ability to mentally process how to survive predator attacks resulted in bigger brains. The original primate body structure was not practical in supporting a larger cranium which contained a larger brain, therefore the body was adapted into a position to support the brain which resulted in bipedalism (Ireland, 2008). Bipedal walking and modified body structures help us understand that we have come a long way in our goal to survive and initially create a better way of life for ourselves and our upcoming