HUMAN ECOLOGY: Ecosystem-Based and Actor/Actress-Based Models

HUMAN ECOLOGY: Ecosystem-Based and Actor/Actress-Based Models

by Antonio C. Antonio

February 3, 2013

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

·         Human Ecology – refers to the study of human behavior and actions within ecosystems.

·         Ecosystem-based Model of Human Ecology – the model that assumes that human populations, as collective units, shape their behavior according to how they might best survive in an ecosystem; and that eventually human populations living in unlike ecosystems will develop cultural traits which, in themselves and their particular combinations, would constitute the best strategy for populations to survive in its ecosystem.

·         Actor/Actress-based Model of Human Ecology – refers to behavior, as culture, is viewed as the accumulation of individual choices on how to behave in an environment in order to survive and to improve one’s quality of life. 

To best explain the Ecosystem-based Model of Human Ecology, I have chosen prisoners or ex-convicts as examples.  They live in confinement, eat the same food and are subjected to the same prison rules and regulations even if they are there for a variety of reasons.  These reasons, however, are not of the ordinary genre as they may range from murder and rape to petty-ordinary crimes.  But no matter what sort of offense they have committed against society, they are still there sharing the same environment separated from the rest of the populace.

This segregation from the rest of society, in time, creates a unique culture such as sporting/wearing of tattoos for example.  To an inmate, a tattoo is a measure of survival in this particular environment as it: (a) Primarily identifies an him with a particular group inside the penitentiary; and (b) Declares his particular position in the group’s hierarchy.  To most inmates though, a tattoo represents some degree of protection from predatory factors (other groups and prison guards as well) inside the prison.  Depending on the dominance of a particular group an inmate signs up with, identification to a particular group or gang gives an inmate a sense of security.  He stands a better chance of surviving his prison term than being a loner in prison.  A shorter prison term does not guarantee survival though.  Notable among these groups or gangs are: (1) Sige-Sige Sputnik, (2) Bahala Na, (3) Batang City Jail, etc… not to mention “Gangnam”?

Aside from sporting the same brand (tattoo), a particular gang also acts in a particular way.  They often have an identifiable hand shake, demeanor and speak/communicate in a distinct language only members of the members of gang understand.  They also live by codes of conduct, often secret, as a means to protect each other from prison authorities and other gangs as well.

Wearing a tattoo and joining a gang is a behavioral factor influenced by an extreme “dog-eat-dog” situation… either you are “with them” or you are dead.  This situation, however, supports both the Rappaport’s and Rambo’s concepts of Human Ecology.  This may be an inappropriate term but even inmates strive for “quality of life” in prison.  Their quality of life will largely be influenced by the tattoo they wear.

As Actors/Actresses in an environment, individuals make personal choices on how to adapt to the environment and they will either succeed or fail in their choices.  Successful choices are eventually adopted by others in the group and they may develop into a behavior of the group itself.  Failed strategies do not get adopted by others and they may end up becoming taboo in the group.  Consequently, culture would be the collection of individual adaptive strategies in a group, in the case of successful ones, others in the group have adopted, and in the case of failed ones, the group has discouraged others from adopting.

Traditionally, tattoos or people wearing tattoos are purely identified as ex-convicts.  Anyone wearing a tattoo of whatever design is automatically labeled as an ex-convict.  In fact, businessmen in the 1960 were uneasy in employing people with tattoos.  Lately, however, wearing tattoos is a fashion statement… gone are the days when convenient labels (of being ex-convicts) are given to people with tattoos.  Although people wearing tattoos are still a minority, wearing one does not necessarily mean you offended society before.

Tattoo may have significant relevance and meaning inside a prison.  In the “outside” world, however, sporting tattoos is acceptable and is left primarily to individual choice nowadays.  The Actor/Actress-based Model of Human Ecology has a lot to do with this behavior.  Having a tattoo is simply an individual choice.  Whether it is right or wrong hardly makes any difference anymore.  To the people who like tattoos, they are left to their devices and not condemned for their choice… and to a certain degree becomes acceptable behavior and culture.  On the other hand, those who do not like tattoos, choose to ignore them and brush them off as fads and fashion statements.  And because of the seemingly permissive nature of modern society, such behavior eventually becomes ordinary and acceptable.

Just my little thoughts…

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