
Contents
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Introduction Introduction
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The Quest to Demonstrate Complex Cognitive Processes The Quest to Demonstrate Complex Cognitive Processes
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The Evolutionary Approach to Social Cognition The Evolutionary Approach to Social Cognition
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Applications of the Evolutionary Approach to Machiavellian Intelligence Applications of the Evolutionary Approach to Machiavellian Intelligence
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Testing the Use of the Cognitive Toolbox Testing the Use of the Cognitive Toolbox
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Back to Basic Observations to Get Ideas on What Makes Social Interactions More Complex than Nonsocial Tasks Back to Basic Observations to Get Ideas on What Makes Social Interactions More Complex than Nonsocial Tasks
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Is Machiavellian Intelligence More about Cooperation or Deception? Is Machiavellian Intelligence More about Cooperation or Deception?
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Methodological Considerations Methodological Considerations
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Experimental Paradigms Experimental Paradigms
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Field Experiments Field Experiments
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Methodological Considerations Concerning the Comparative Approach Methodological Considerations Concerning the Comparative Approach
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Conclusions Conclusions
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14 How Intelligent Is Machiavellian Behavior?
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Published:December 2011
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Abstract
The hypothesis that the complexity of social life selects for large brains is currently very prominent. This functional hypothesis has been tested mainly through experiments which aim to identify the cognitive processes or mechanisms that may underlie social behavior. Such research is inherently challenging because it is extremely difficult to design experiments that conclusively allow the exclusion of simple cognitive processes as an explanation for successful behavior. This chapter argues that cognitive scientists should not focus on processes alone but rather quantitatively test what animals can do with their brain: how fast, how precise, how much they can learn. Many differences between species concerning cognitive tasks in the social domain are quantitative in nature (e.g., the number of group members, past behavior that an individual has to recognize, the number of opportunities for social learning or cooperation that arise per time unit, etc.). Tests on how such quantitative differences between species translate into quantitative cognitive performances should be conducted in many species to provide a comparative approach, where predictions about relative performance can be made based on detailed knowledge of each study species’ ecology. Comparative approaches are methodologically challenging but can be tackled through large-scale cooperation.
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