Human Variation and Race Post

1. Cold environments may have a pretty harsh affect on humans. This would be an example of developmental adaptation because of our ability to survive and live in cold weather. Over time, humans that live in colder climates have adapted in body shape. This environmental stress has a negative impact on the survival of humans because of our low tolerance for cold weather. We don't have fur or longer hair as other mammals do, therefore, it is harder on the body to adapt to the cold.

2. A short term adaptation that humans have come across is being able to retain body heat in cold weather.

A facultative adaptation would include getting goosebumps or skin coming closer together in order to retain heat in cold climates. 

A developmental adaptation can be the roundness and plumpness of people who have adapted to the cold environment. 

A cultural adaptation would include language acquisition. Living in a certain area where there is a specific dialect would call for adapting to that culture. 

3. The benefits of studying human variation are understanding the different ways that humans communicate and adapt to their environments. We also benefit by being able to utilize this information and learn about different cultures. 

4. Race is a large factor in adapting to climates. Eskimos and other native cultures have adapted in history but does not necessarily mean that the race themselves has adapted. They are only human. Environmental adaptation is a better way because you would be able to better understand the affects that the environment has on humans, not just one race. 

Language Blog

Language Blog

This experiment was difficult for me because there were very little ways to say something without the use of words or ASL. I found myself trying to make up ways to communicate with my hands which became pretty difficult. My hands were essential in communicating what I was trying to say to others. My partners became confused because they were trying to figure out what I was trying to get across to them. I felt I was slowing down the conversation with my lack of speaking ability. They did not alter their way of communicating; they simply tried to make clear what I was trying to say. The culture with a more advanced way of communication and with the ability to speak has the advantage because they are able to be more direct. The speaking culture may have a negative attitude towards those that cannot speak because they would question their intelligence and way of their culture. Individuals who are not from this country that do not speak our language and come from a small culture would have most difficulty communicating through spoken language. It ultimately affects the speaking culture because they may feel frustrated or uneasy when trying to get a message across those that do not understand.

I was able to last the 15 minutes, however, it felt very prolonged and uneasy. Without the use of emotion or facial features, it became a bit confusing for my partners. What made this experiment difficult for me was not being able to use hand movements. The previous experiment allowed for hand movements, however following that experiment made communicating quite difficult. My partners were affected because there were times that I would say something and they would be confused because of my lack of emotion. Non-speech techniques have proven to be very important at times because of their significant use in trying to get a message across. Without hand or facial movements, it would be difficult to communicate with many people. There are some people who cannot read body language and it can be important at times. Reading body language really helps distinguish what the other person is feeling. If someone is standing in a certain way or slouching, this may come off as lazy or bored. The benefits of reading body language are that you can fully understand what the person is saying to you and you can know their mood.