self-domestication

thumb|Experiment conducted by the University of Barcelona to demonstrate the hypothesis of self-domestication.

Self-domestication is a scientific hypothesis that posits the occurrence of a process of artificial selection among human beings, akin to that observed in domesticated animals. This process has been executed by human beings themselves. During the process of hominization, a preference for individuals exhibiting collaborative and social behaviors would have emerged, thereby optimizing the benefits for the entire group. This process of artificial selection would have enhanced docility, language, and emotional intelligence. The hypothesis posits that this distinction is the primary factor that distinguishes Homo sapiens from Homo neanderthalensis and Homo erectus.