Human Kindness: Disabilities Linked to Evolution of Compassion in Homo Sapiens
Scientists explain that species with disabilities have been shunned, even persecuted, according to coolestgist.
Yet, another study shows that disability and deformities may have helped in the development of our species. Anthropologists at the University of York and Newcastle University feel that hereditary disabilities may have forced humans to become social and cooperative.
It is during some key moments during evolution that tiny groups got isolated, leading to inbreeding. Hence, 'disabilities' such as weak jaws, hairless bodies, weak arms and straight feet that do not encourage climbing trees might have started to emerge.
Thus, other social traits like compassion, communication and the ability to experiment would have become important. Scientists feel that the new theory of the 'Vulnerable Ape' model show that these traits would have made them cope with challenges of their genes.
Dr Nick Winder, from the school of arts and cultures at Newcastle University, said isolated groups of early humans whose numbers dwindled during times of hardship would have experienced a new type of selection pressure that did not favour those with the 'best' genes.
He said: "This is a new way of thinking about "fitness". It wasn't just a matter of having good genes yourself because half your offspring's genes come from someone else. The pool of potential mates would be small and individuals would have to accept the genes on offer or fail to reproduce at all. On some occasions there would be matings between close kin, on others, there would be matings across species boundaries."
Hence, the "fittest" individuals would be any of those that could help their offspring co-exist with this vulnerability. "Those that were a little smarter, more flexible, and more compassionate would have been at an advantage."
