Human Variation & Race

Humans adapt day by day, as well as over many years and generations. These adaptations can be caused environmental stressors, that almost force these individuals to modify for survival. A specific stressor that has changed humans over time is heat. With an excess of heat in any given environment, species core temperatures can rise to an unbearable level, causing  hyperthermia (core temperatures rising to about 105-107 degrees Fahrenheit). When this occurs, homeostasis within these organisms and their environment is disrupted and can lead to fatalities. In order to biologically protect themselves from heat, humans have adapted in a multitude of different ways:  

1. Short-term adaptation: a more obvious short-term adaptation to heat is evaporative cooling, the evaporation of sweat on the skin’s surface. Humans do this to overall, cool their body temperature while in direct heat or exercise.
2. Facultative adaptation: skin tone is considered this type of adaptation due to the fact that lighter skin tones reflect the sun’s rays, while darker tones absorb it.
3. Developmental adaptation:  Bipedalism can be considered a developed adaptation. Humans ancestors were once quadrupeds but adapted over to this form of “transportation” to lessen the amount of surface area the sun contacted on their bodies when it was in it’s “heat peak”. This change also allowed the body to come into more contact with various breezes in the air.
4. Cultural adaptation: A cultural adaptation could be air conditioners here in Southern California. They are common in almost all households in this region. And are used to keep internal temperatures low and comfortable. Though they are used, and affordable, all over the world, US culture has utilized and promoted their use for heat control for many years.         

A benefit of studying heat on human variation across these environmental clines are extensive and essential in aiding mankind in dealing with this type of stressor. If we can understand how to manage heat related issues in different environments, people will be able to tolerate, or manage these different temperature climates. This allows people to create different technologies to aid us in this process and to benefit the quality of life in certain regions.

Race is not a sufficient tool in understanding these adaptations. Though it is easy to say that these difference “created” races, they are not direct indicators of that. Race can be indicated by a common language and cultural and historical connections. People from a multitude of regions have these different variations, body types, skin tones, etc., and do not come from the same “race”. These variations derived from different environmental stressors and cannot be “blamed” on race as a reason for their occurrence.   

Language as a Tool

In conducting the Language Experiment, I learned an ample amount about how essential and important the use of language is to get valuable and meaning information across.  The first part of the experiment required me to remain silent and avoid using any version of symbolic language while conducting a fifteen or so minute conversation. My boyfriend was able to speak verbally and asked me many questions that I found quite difficult to respond to.  I found myself often pointing to objects as a clue to what my response was, or just smiling because I had no idea how to answer back. About five minutes into the conversation, I became a lightly agitated because the conversation was leading nowhere and this game of charades did not exactly help us communicate our intentions. He then would ask very simple questions, knowing that I would be able to respond to the simplicity. He had to initiate the conversation changes because he would have a hard time understanding when I attempted to change topics. No doubt, he controlled and held the power of the conversation while I sat mutely.  Though he most likely found it humorous that he could relay whatever he wanted and I could not, overall this was not a success.

If one culture is able to use spoken language, and one is not, the verbally able culture will hold the advantage in communicating complex ideas within their population- such as ideas relating to agriculture, survival, or the purpose of life.  This culture would, in return, feel a sense of superiority because they are able to bounce ideas off of one another, create meaning, and take action accordingly. They would think of the unable culture as a littler group of people and most likely treat them differently. A modern example of this could include humankind and different animals that cannot use symbolic language. Humans not only see animals as lesser beings, but take advantage of them as well- such as the use of them for food and work.

In the second part of this experiment, I was asked to engage in another fifteen minute conversation that I could verbally speak in, but could not use any physical embellishments (movements, hand signals, vocal intonation, etc.) I previously assumed this task would be much easier, considering I could actually use my voice finally, but once the conversation got going, I realized how easy it was to misunderstand what I meant. It once again became frustrating, one, because I had to constantly remind myself to stay monotone and sit on my hands, and two, because my words were taken too literally by him. Phrases were misinterpreted and the responses would lead me to have to once again explain myself, making this very confusing.

Signs in human communication are very important and essential- voice tone and motions help aid people in understanding meaning behind the words. Reading body language truly can help one understand mood or feeling behind what is being said. Being able to read this type of communication can help someone understand one’s intentions, good or bad, and can help when it comes to safety or avoiding conflict. It can also be used in asking others for help obtaining resources, and communicating interest in sexual relations and reproduction. It is this type of communication that makes individuals unique from others. People that can hear voice intonation but cannot see body language are those that are blind. This can be unfavorable when trying to read someone's interest in you or the topic at hand. This can also be seen as a beneficial thing because it allows you to no allow physical appearance convince you to make a different decision otherwise. Someone’s body language could indicate truth, but may perhaps be a lie. This use of language can create important connotation, but can also be a tool of manipulation. Therefore, the use of symbolic language comes with advantages, but also responsibility and risks.