Music, bonding, and human evolution: A critique

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary psychology
• Music cognition
• Human social behavior

Background:

• Savage et al. proposed music evolved to bridge a "bonding gap" in human sociality.
• Their hypothesis utilized Baldwinian gene-culture coevolution and cognitive niche construction.
• These evolutionary mechanisms for music's origin are debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To scrutinize the proposed evolutionary account of music's function and origin.
• To evaluate the problematic aspects of Savage et al.'s hypothesis.
• To propose an alternative evolutionary framework for music.

Main Methods:

• Critical analysis of existing evolutionary theories on music.
• Examination of the concepts of Baldwinian gene-culture coevolution.
• Review of cognitive niche construction in relation to music.

Main Results:

• The hypothesis of music filling a "bonding gap" via gene-culture coevolution is found problematic.
• The proposed mechanisms of Baldwinian gene-culture coevolution and cognitive niche construction are scrutinized.
• Limitations in the Savage et al. model are identified.

Conclusions:

• The proposed evolutionary stepping stones for music's function are insufficient.
• An alternative evolutionary perspective on the origin and role of music is presented.
• Further research is needed to fully understand music's evolutionary trajectory.