6047 Silsby Hall
Hanover, NH 03755
Phone: 603-646-3436
Fax: 603-646-1140
seth.d.dobson at dartmouth.edu
I am a biological anthropologist specializing in comparative primatology, with an emphasis on visual communication and social cognition. My research is motivated by an overarching interest in the evolution of human behavior and the origins of language. Some aspects of the language faculty are shared with other animals, while others are unique to humans. These novel features require novel explanations. What adaptive advantage did language provide to our hominin ancestors that non-linguistic forms of communication were not providing? To answer this question, we must first understand the ultimate functions of non-linguistic forms of communication, such as facial expression.
My doctoral research focused on the evolutionary causes of variation in facial expression with regard to facial mobility, or the variety of facial movements a species can produce. Since facial expressions are used to manage conflicts and facilitate bonding within groups, it has been suggested that the ultimate function of facial expression is group cohesion. Facial mobility is relevant to this hypothesis because species that produce a greater variety of facial movements have the potential to communicate more effectively. My results support the group cohesion hypothesis. Thus, group cohesion per se is not likely to be the selective pressure leading to language, because facial expression serves this function adequately.
My current research focuses on the social functions of facial expressions used by geladas (Theropithecus gelada) living in Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. Very few studies of facial expression in nonhuman primates are based on wild populations. However, studies of captive animals are inherently limited with regard to the range of natural contexts in which facial expressions might occur. The multilevel social organization and open terrestrial habitat of T. gelada make this species ideal for examining the social functions of facial expression in a wide range of contexts. My goal is to use these data to test hypotheses concerning the basic properties of facial expression as a system of communication in a wild primate. This project has important implications for placing human facial expressions in a comparative context and for understanding the uniqueness of human language.
For more information about my research visit http://sethdobson.blogspot.com.
