Does cultural group selection explain the evolution of pet-keeping?

Area of Science:

• Anthropology
• Evolutionary Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Pet-keeping is a widespread but culturally variable human behavior.
• Understanding the evolutionary drivers of pet-keeping is crucial for human behavioral studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose cultural group selection as a framework for understanding pet-keeping.
• To identify key characteristics of pet-keeping that align with group selection theory.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis linking pet-keeping to group selection principles.
• Examination of pet-keeping's association with inheritance systems and social transmission.
• Consideration of between-group variation and intergroup competition in pet-keeping.

Main Results:

• Pet-keeping exhibits significant variation in frequency and form across different cultures.
• The phenomenon aligns with core tenets of cultural group selection, including inheritance and social transmission.
• Indirect intergroup competition may have influenced the spread of pet-keeping.

Conclusions:

• Cultural group selection provides a robust theoretical model for the evolution of pet-keeping.
• The study highlights the interplay of social learning, inheritance, and competition in shaping this human behavior.