The Social intelligence Hypothesis

Question 1

Social Complexity

Answer 1

In order for a species to exhibit socially complex behaviour and organisation, the social group must have relatively stable membership over time. Without individual recognition, one cannot form long-term alliances or keep track of previous social interaction with other group members. In addition, without stable group membership and individual recognition, one could not form dominance hierarchies. In primates who you know is almost as important as how big and strong you are.

Question 2

Social Complexity: real life examples

Answer 2

For instance, in order to rise to alpha status, male chimpanzees will often form alliances with non-related males. Alpha chimpanzees will help the underdogs in their group (particularly females) - since there is strength in numbers and they can help ward off potential challengers for the alpha spot. Females also show impressive apparent political manoeuvring. For example, juvenile female baboons prefer to play with the daughters of high-ranking mothers. Rhesus macaques will double hug their own infants and the infants of high-ranking females, 9/10 hugs were with high-ranking infants (de Waal 1990). This suggests that primates possess and use knowledge of social relationships in their social manoeuvring.