The social brain hypothesis is a theory about how we
ended up with such powerful brains. It states that
humans evolved in close-knit communities, which
required the ability to recognise and process a lot of
different relationships with many individuals. Rather
than just looking out for ourselves and our kin, we
now had to be aware of the roles, interactions,
affiliations and responsibilities of the shared group,
and people we had no genetic link to. To do this
effectively requires the ability to process a vast
amount of information, resulting in an evolutionary
advantage for intelligence and abstract thinking.
Thousands of years later, here we are. And if you
doubt the intense amount of information required to
handle different group relationships, then try putting
together a table plan at a wedding.
It’s debatable whether this social brain hypothesis is
the whole story, but it’s obvious that our brains are
heavily influenced by other people, even down to the
neurological level. Contemplating being part of a group
has been shown to produce activity in particular
regions of the brain, including the cortical midline
structures and temporoparietal junctions. Some
experts now term this network as ‘the social brain’,
which is different to the social brain hypothesis
discussed earlier. Also, brain areas such as the dorsal
anterior cingulate cortex show increased activity when
subjects contemplate the groups or communities
they’re part of, suggesting that those we interact with
form a strong element of our identity.
Overall, it seems caring about others and being
friendly is what made us the humans we are today.
That’s a nice thought, but it can have some serious
downsides, meaning that not giving a damn about your
fellow humans and focusing solely on your
own needs can have genuine benefits.
For example, the informational influence. If you are
around people who all share a common conclusion on
an important issue or subject, then
you’re more likely to agree with it.
You’ll either say you agree, even if youNot giving a damn about
fellow humans and focusing
solely on your own needs
can have genuine benefits
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