From Homininity to Humanity: Compassion from the Earliest Archaics to Modern Humans

Penny Spikins; H. Rutherford; Andrew Needham

doi:10.2752/175169610X12754030955977

From Homininity to Humanity: Compassion from the Earliest Archaics to Modern Humans

Penny Spikins, H. Rutherford, Andrew Needham

Archaeology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We are increasingly aware of the role of emotions and emotional construction in social relationships. However, despite their significance, there are few constructs or theoretical approaches to the evolution of emotions that can be related to the prehistoric archaeological record. Whilst we frequently discuss how archaic humans might have thought, how they felt might seem to be beyond the realm of academic inquiry. In this paper we aim to open up the debate into the construction of emotion in early prehistory by proposing key stages in the emotional motivation to help others; the feeling of compassion, in human evolution. We review existing literature on compassion and highlight what appear to be particularly significant thresholds in the development of compassion for human social relationships and the evolution of the human mind.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	303-325
Number of pages	23
Journal	Time & mind-The journal of archaeology consciousness and culture
Volume	3
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2752/175169610X12754030955977
Publication status	Published - Nov 2010

Bibliographical note

This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details

Keywords

compassion
archaeology
prehistory
evolution of the mind
altruism
MODERN HUMAN-BEHAVIOR
PLEISTOCENE HUMAN CRANIUM
SOUTH-CENTRAL AFRICA
MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE
ATTACHMENT SECURITY
HOMO-ERECTUS
SHELL BEADS
ALTRUISTIC PUNISHMENT
PALEOLITHIC SOCIETY
DECISION-MAKING

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The Prehistory of Compassion_OA_Images
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http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bloomsbury/tmdj/2010/00000003/00000003/art00005?token=005118a5608c6816573d257025702c23442f42317b6f2c20417c4e7547543c7e386f642f466ffb878

Cite this

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author = "Penny Spikins and H. Rutherford and Andrew Needham",

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From Homininity to Humanity: Compassion from the Earliest Archaics to Modern Humans

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Interdisciplinary research into the Palaeolithic origins of care-giving and medicine

Cite this

From Homininity to Humanity: Compassion from the Earliest Archaics to Modern Humans

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Projects

Interdisciplinary research into the Palaeolithic origins of care-giving and medicine

Cite this