Holism within Cultures
Describe the difference between Altricial
and precocial primate care.
 Examine how infant care practices as an
intersection of biology and culture
illustrate the interdisciplinary, holistic
nature of anthropological inquiry.

Objective
Various dimensions of
culture are
interdependent
 You cannot
understand anyone
facet without
reference to others.

Holism within
Cultures
Kinship
Marriage
Politics
Economics
Art
Religion
Medicine
Eating
Security
Sports
Housing
Death
Child rearing
Recreation
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Altricial: those whose newly hatched or
born young are relatively immobile, have
closed eyes, lack hair or down and must
be cared for by the adults.
 Precocial- relatively mature and mobile
from the moment of birth or hatching.

◦ Based on a continuum
Primates Need Care

Name as many animals that are either be
Altricial or prococial.
Group Work
Human children observe and experience
care giving behaviors
 Apply them to their own offspring

Primates are Mimetic
What is maternal Instinct?

Generalized knowledge and guides to
action that individuals learn as members
of social groups.
Cultural Scripts
What are some things that babies need?
 How are these needs met?
 How do we know what babies need?

Babies
Continuum of Care