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Animals · Animal ethology · Comparative psychology · Animal models · Outline · Index
Nick Humphreys, in "The Social Function of Intellect" (1976), first proposed that the adaptive value of intelligent behaviour in animals lies not just in technical domains such as tool use for extractive foraging (the so-called "ecological intelligence hypothesis"), but through group living a variety of different selective pressures would lead to the evolution of more "intelligent" behavior.[1] The social intelligence hypothesis thus encompasses the Machiavellian intelligence hypothesis and social brain hypothesis which can be seen as related theories as to how social living would lead to greater intelligence.
Humphreys posited a variety different consequences of group living, such as:
- Social Learning allows for intelligent behavior to spread without the need for individuals innovating, and can actually "substitute" intelligence in some ways.
- Exploiting, deciving and out-manoeuvring conspecifics will be adaptive and require being able to understand both the consequences of their own behavior and to calculate the behavior of others, as well as a variety of other complex abilities. The latter ability is now called "theory of mind" and has been studied intesively in the comparative perspective. The Machiavellian intelligence hypothesis specifically refers to the evolution of social intelligence in this domain.
- Co-operation between conspecifics, what Humphreys termed sympathy, may evolve in conjuction with more selfish forms of behavior as outlined in the machiavellian intelligence hypothesis. Humphreys believed that relationships based on "mutual give and take", will also be adaptive for individuals.
The research program of social intelligence has mostly explored in comparative cognition research, comparing the cogntiive abilities of different animals. Much less work has been done on providing concrete evidence that adaptations for social living (i.e. social learning) are actually adaptive.[2]
Template:Contents
The Machiavellian Intelligence Hypothesis
- Main article: Machiavellian intelligence
Social learning and its adaptive value
Social learning is a widespread skill amongst animals, however it varies in complexity across taxa, although research many speces other than primates is still in its infancy. There are varying views on its adaptive value, however, with the prevailing assumption that it is an adaptive skill being questioned by some. [3]
References
- ↑ Humphrey, N. (1976) The Social Function of intellect. In Growing Points in ethology (eds P.P.G. Bateson & R.A> Hinde), pp.303-317. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press .
- ↑ e.g. Silk, J. (2007) The Adaptive value of sociality in mammalian groups. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 362, 539-559.
- ↑ Rieucau, G. & Giraldeau, L. (2011) Exploring the costs and benefits of social infomation use: an appraisal of current experimental evidence. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 366, 1567, 949-957.