(Q001) Watch the video "Cave Grandma" and answer the question that follows.
https://util.wwnorton.com/jwplayer?type=video&msrc=/wwnorton.college.protected/coursepacks/phys_anthro/videos/video_cave_grandma.mp4&isrc=/wwnorton.college.protected/coursepacks/phys_anthro/videos/video_cave_grandma.jpg&csrc=/wwnorton.college.protected/coursepacks/phys_anthro/videos/video_cave_grandma.vtt&cp=1

What does the "grandmother hypothesis" suggest?

Question

(Q001) Watch the video "Cave Grandma" and answer the question that follows.
https://util.wwnorton.com/jwplayer?type=video&msrc=/wwnorton.college.protected/coursepacks/phys_anthro/videos/video_cave_grandma.mp4&isrc=/wwnorton.college.protected/coursepacks/phys_anthro/videos/video_cave_grandma.jpg&csrc=/wwnorton.college.protected/coursepacks/phys_anthro/videos/video_cave_grandma.vtt&cp=1

What does the "grandmother hypothesis" suggest?

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Starting with option 1, 'There were generally decreases in life expectancy': This statement misstates the core idea of the grandmother hypothesis. The hypothesis focuses on the evolutionary advantage of women living beyond reproductive age so they can help care for grandchildren, thereby increasing the survival and reproduction of their kin. It is not about a general decrease in life expectancy, but about the value of extended post-reproductive lifespan for kin selection.

Options 2 and 3 present alternative ideas that miss the key mechanism of the grandmother hypothesis. Option 2, 'Postmenopausal women cared less for their grandchildren because there were too many to take care of,' suggests a diminishing role for grandmothers due to caregiving burden. In contrast, the grandmother hypothesis argues that grandmothers can provide substantial care and resources to grandchildren, thereby boosting grandchildren’s survival, not reducing grandmother involvement. This makes the statement incorrect in its core claim about grandmother involvement.

Option 3, 'New ideas developed because parents were able to spend more time with their children,' shifts the focus from kin-based caregiving to parental time and innovation, which is not the mechanism described by the grandmother hypothesis. While parental-child interactions are important in human evolution, the grandmother hypothesis specifically emphasizes the fitness benefits of post-reproductive female help from grandmothers in supporting grandchildren, rather than changes in idea development linked to parental time.

Option 4, 'Grandmothers caring for their grandchildren boosted population size,' aligns with the central claim of the grandmother hypothesis in many discussions: grandmotheral care can increase the survival and reproductive success of grandchildren, thereby contributing to population growth or persistence. This statement captures the essence of the hypothesis by focusing on the inclusive fitness benefits generated by extended post-reproductive caregiving.

In summary, options 1, 2, and 3 each misstate or misplace the mechanism described by the grandmother hypothesis, either by emphasizing life expectancy trends, suggesting reduced grandmother involvement, or attributing effects to parental time rather than kin-based caregiving. Option 4 correctly reflects the proposed evolutionary advantage of grandmothers aiding their grandchildren, which can enhance the survival and reproductive success of kin.

ANTH-101-03 CH 11 VIDEO EXERCISE: Cave Grandma

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