Chapter 13. EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION

I. The Problem of Cooperation A. Three Unusual Features of Human Societies Human societies exhibit cooperation, coordination, and division of labor, three features that place them at striking variance with most animals. Cooperation involves individuals doing something for the common benefit of everyone in a social group, as when soldiers defend a whole nation against its enemies. Coordination involves everyone doing things one way instead of another so that social activity can proceed efficiently (Susden, 1986). For example, we all agree to drive on the same side of the road and to pronounce words in the same way to avoid the chaos that would result if everyone ‘did their own thing’ (as we children of the 60s once imagined possible). The division of labor results when different individuals undertake specialized tasks, and then exchange the products of their labor. The sexual division of labor is the most ancient example in human societies. Historically, men’s and women’s activities have differed fairly radically, but within the household each sex’s products are contributed to a common pot that family members draw upon.