Dunbar

This page is for our notes/discussion on The Social Brain: Mind, Language, and Society in Evolutionary Perspective

The Social brain hypothesis was originally used to try and explain why primates had unusually large brains for their body size. it turns out primates have larger brains because their neocortex happens to be larger. It was thought that changes in the brain were driven to solve ecological problems, such as the need for hunting and making of tools to do so. It has been suggested that primates social skills are much more complex than non primates.

The social brain hypothesis section asked two questions I thought to be important: Do individuals use social transmission of information to solve daily survival and reproduction problems? Are individuals able to exploit and manipulate the mind states of other individuals in managing the social relationships in which day to day survival and reproduction issues depend upon?

Social intelligence is used as a reflection of the ability to use basic executive functions in a more sophisticated manner.

The Alternative hypothesis on the other hand, views behavioral and intellectual competences only as a by-product of having a large brain. There definitely aren't as many arguments for this. Also it doesn't explain why we are social beings and why certain groups tend to be large. I would think that in some evolutionary cases it would be safer to stay away from large groups, so that you would not need to provide for others, only yourself.

I'm leaning more towards the social brain hypothesis myself... ~Ruby

Here are the breakdown notes of the article that I found helpful:


 * Social Brain Hypothesis: ** Proposed to explain primates' unusually large brain, it focuses on the ability to use knowledge about other individual's behavior - and perhaps mind-states - to predict & manipulate those individuals' behavior.

*Argument: Cognitive demands of living in complexly bonded social groups selected for increases in the neocortex.

Focus: Intersection of the brain, mind & language in hominid evolution


 * __NOT __** asking "Why do primates have unusually large brains?" **INSTEAD** asking "Why do primates have unusually large neocortices?"

-Prior assumption: Changes in brain evolution have been driven by the need to solve ecological problems


 * __NOT __** a question of whether or not ecology influences behavior, but rathr ecological/survival problems are solved only by individuals acting on their own or individuals effecting social solutions to these problems. (Individual vs. social cognitive skills)

*Argument: Social intelligence is __**NOT**__ a special nodule (like language) but the ability to use basic executive functions in a more sophisticated way.

***FINAL ARGUMENT:** Language evolved to the bridge this gap in bonding time requirement because it allows time to be used more efficiently