Document Detail


The adaptive value of tool-aided defense against wild animal attacks.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18561298     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Throughout history humans have faced the persistent threat of attacks by wild animals, and how humans respond to this problem can make the difference between survival and death. In theory, the use of tools to fend off animal attacks would be more effective than resisting bare-handed, yet evidence for the advantage of tool-aided defense is scarce and equivocal. Two studies of news accounts of wild animal attacks against humans were conducted to test the hypothesis that tool-aided defense is indeed associated with reductions in injuries and deaths. Results of both Study 1 (N=172) and Study 2 (N=370) supported the hypothesis. The observed survival advantage of tool-aided defense for modern humans suggests that this tactic also would have worked for human ancestors who lived more closely to dangerous wild animals.
Authors:
Peter B Crabb; Andrew Elizaga
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Aggressive behavior     Volume:  34     ISSN:  1098-2337     ISO Abbreviation:  Aggress Behav     Publication Date:    2008 Nov-Dec
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-10-13     Completed Date:  2008-12-22     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7502265     Medline TA:  Aggress Behav     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  633-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University-Hazleton, Hazleton, Pennsylvania 18202, USA. pbc1@psu.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adaptation, Psychological*
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aggression / psychology*
Animals
Animals, Wild
Behavior, Animal
Bites and Stings / psychology*
Child
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Self Efficacy
Survivors / psychology*
Tool Use Behavior*
Young Adult

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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