If you were a human animal several million years ago, how would you have behaved? You would have relied for your survival on a variety of foods which would have been available only occasionally. Not only would you have known what was edible, but also where and when these foods would be available. Hunter gatherers depended on a wide knowledge of the food items which contribute to their diets. This knowledge was acquired by children from adults and passed on through the generations.

As the food sources were scattered and uncontrolled, of necessity, humans lived in small and widely separated groups. Larger groups would have formed temporarily to take advantage of occasional bumper harvests. So our ancestors would have lived in small groups, let’s call them tribes. based on one or more families. There would have been no more than three generations present in the tribe, and the oldest generation – the elders, would have been respected and cherished as the source of the knowledge and skills that enabled the tribe to survive. An example of this culture is provided by indigenous Australians, whose culture has survived more than fifty thousand years.

So, given that we have not outlived our evolutionary heritage – we still retain many aspects of behaviour that were inherent in our ancestors for many millions of years, how does modern society compare?

A tendency to form small tribes for example? We are happiest when in a small group, especially when the other members have similar interests and beliefs. Many modern family problems, including marriage breakups and violence towards partners and children would have been ameliorated, even prevented, if the individuals had been part of a larger group. The isolated nuclear family in its private 2-3 bed home, with close relatives living elsewhere, and the elders in retirement homes, encourages and enhances conflict. Who can children turn to when offside with their parents? Where are the elders whom the adults can turn to for support and advice? What about all those single parents, mostly women, struggling to raise children on their own. They need their tribe.