When it comes to human uniqueness, one adaptation that sets us apart from other species is our particular brand of intelligence, which allows us to use knowledge in socially interdependent constructs. In this clip from the 2015 World Science Festival program “Planet of the Humans: The Leap to the Top,” psychologist and linguist Steven Pinker talks about what’s meant by the “cognitive niche,” a term coined by anthropologists John Tooby and Irv Devore to explain how humans use reasoning and other parts of our intelligence to overtake other plants’ and animals’ defenses.

Watch the Full Program Here: http://youtu.be/V3IlnuMG39U
Original Program Date: May 29, 2015

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