Human Evolution Research Paper

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The main purpose of this essay is to critically discuss the importance of an understanding of human evolution and the history of psychology for the current psychologist. The essay aims to critically consider the study of human evolution, which includes some of the species that evolved over the years before we now carry on our species, and the different outstanding figures that are responsible for psychology being the field it is today. Finally, how an understanding of this can assistant a modern psychologist.

Human evolution is the theory the human evolved from primates or ape-like creatures. The idea began in 1956 when a skull was found in Neander Valley in Germany that seemed to be half ape and half human. In 1856, Charles Darwin published …show more content…
When the remains the Sahelanthropus tchadensis was found, it showed the first significant differences between humans and apes such as bone/skull architecture. Fossil finds for the Australopithecus afarensis are dated to be about 3.6million years old. They also walked upright and inhabited the savannah and open grasslands. They lived in eastern Africa and were able to walk upright and easily climb trees. Homo Neanderthals lived about 28 000-200 000 years ago, and they are our closest extinct relatives. They lived during an ice age and in order to adapt to the cold weather, the face of their skulls changed slightly (Pbs.org, 2018). Neanderthals were also the first early humans to control fire, creating more of a social life for them. Homo habilis lived about 1-2 million years ago, and has a name meaning, "handy skillful". Homo habilis is also one of the earliest species of the Homo genius and is thought to be one of the first to make stone tools. Also, they lived in eastern and southern Africa. Homo erectus lived about 1.8 million years ago. Homo erectus is known for being the oldest and the first early humans to have modern human-like proportions. There is also fossil evidence showing that the Homo erectus was the first to use fire and hunt with weapons. Homo erectus is Latin for "upright man." This is because they are one of the first human species to be able to walk upright and a potentially run for long lengths of time. They also advanced one of the first-hand axes, and lived in Africa and Asia (Science, 2018). Homo sapiens are the only non-extinct species of the Great Apes left. Still to this day, they aim in technology and are the only species with a written language. Our species of humans first began to evolve approximately 200 000 years ago. This species of human is frequently referred to as
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