Genes, Brains, and Human Potential The Science and Ideology of Intelligence

254 POTENTIAL BETWEEN BRAINS

Some of the prob lems may be those of studying small samples of
a  species over limited time periods. Th ere may be failure to recognize
unexpected degrees of cognitive fl exibility even in seemingly fi xed hier-
archies. For example, baboon troops exhibit strong dominance hierarchies.
Yet observations in the fi eld also reveal highly collective decision making
at times, in which high- ranking males are sensitive to the preferences of
others: “ Th ese results are consistent with models of collective motion,
suggesting that demo cratic collective action emerging from simple rules
is widespread, even in complex, socially stratifi ed socie ties.”^25
Such wider observations suggests that many, if not all, of the con-
clusions of the “selfi sh individualist” paradigm might be explained by
self- organized group dynamics rather than individual constitutional
diff erences. As Claire Detrain puts it, regarding studies of macaque mon-
keys, “Self- organ ization... even alters common beliefs about the origin of
highly complex structures such as hierarchy in primate socie ties which
ranges from ‘despotic’ to ‘egalitarian.’... It is suggested that the numerous
behavioral diff erences between egalitarian and despotic macaques auto-
matically emerge within the society and can be traced back by simple
diff erences in group- members interactions.”^26

THE PATHWAY TO HUMANS?

Much of the research on primates has been motivated by the belief that

it will tell us more about human culture and human nature. But some

myths and distractions have been created in the pro cess. For example, it

seems to be assumed that many primates live social lives a lot like those

of humans, that they have bigger brains because of such social lives (and

that explains why humans have big brains), and they exhibit human

“cu lture.”

However, if there are increments in brain size attributable to social life

at this (prehuman) level, they are not huge (compared with increments

due to demands of the physical world, including nonsocial interactions

with other animals). In any case, as Harry Jerison has said, much social

complexity can be achieved without much increase in brain size. More

impor tant than sheer size and (assumed) pro cessing complexity may have

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