Killer ape theory
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The killer ape theory or killer ape hypothesis is the theory that war and interpersonal aggression was the driving force behind human evolution. It was originated by Raymond Dart; it was later notably developed by Robert Ardrey in his book African Genesis.
According to the killer ape theory, the ancestors of humans were distinguished from other primate species by their greater aggressiveness. Furthermore, according to the theory, this aggression remains within humanity, which retains many murderous instincts.
The theory gained notoriety for suggesting that the urge to do violence was a fundamental part of human psychology.
The theory is not widely accepted among anthropologists today.
[edit] References in pop culture
This theory can be seen in the opening sequence of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The television show Sliders made extensive use of the killer ape theory in arcs involving the Kro-Maggs.
| This article relating to anthropology is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
[edit] External links
- "The Killer Ape Is Dead"
- "From Killer Ape to Hippie Ape"
- Excerpts from African Genesis by Robert Ardrey
| This page uses content from the English-language version of Wikipedia. The original article was at Killer ape theory. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Psychology Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License. |
