DOCSLIB.ORG

Active Inference, Evolutionary Transition, and the Deep Roots of Complex Societies

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Active Inference, Evolutionary Transition, and the Deep Roots of Complex Societies Social morphogenesis as enactive agency Active inference, evolutionary transition, and the deep roots of complex societies Avel Gu´enin{Carlut avelguenin.github.io May 21, 2021 Kairos Research kairos-research.org Table of Contents Introducing active inference to cultural evolutionists Clarifying active inference Emerging agency as active inference 1 Introducing active inference to cultural evolutionists The Free Energy Principle [17, 11, 18, 1] Dynamical systems, given sufficiently regular boundary conditions, spontaneously self-organise so as to minimise their expected variational free energy, effectively maximising evidence for the world-model they enact. (En)active inference is the process by which dynamical systems climb evidence gradient, ie autonomously enact adaptive agency [31]. from Friston [18] Dynamics as inference 2 (En)active inference is the process by which dynamical systems climb evidence gradient, ie autonomously enact adaptive agency [31]. from Friston [18] Dynamics as inference The Free Energy Principle [17, 11, 18, 1] Dynamical systems, given sufficiently regular boundary conditions, spontaneously self-organise so as to minimise their expected variational free energy, effectively maximising evidence for the world-model they enact. 2 Dynamics as inference The Free Energy Principle [17, 11, 18, 1] Dynamical systems, given sufficiently regular boundary conditions, spontaneously self-organise so as to minimise their expected variational free energy, effectively maximising evidence for the world-model they enact. (En)active inference is the process by which dynamical systems climb evidence gradient, ie autonomously enact adaptive agency [31]. from Friston [18] 2 Active inference can work by altering one's environment to fit their expectations, which corresponds to the evolutionary process known as niche construction [8, 13]. from Veissi`ereet al. [39] Humans in particular build shared expectations through engagement with common social and material affordances, allowing adaptative cultural niche construction [23, 6] by thinking through other minds [39, 40]. Cultural niche construction as active inference 3 Humans in particular build shared expectations through engagement with common social and material affordances, allowing adaptative cultural niche construction [23, 6] by thinking through other minds [39, 40]. Cultural niche construction as active inference Active inference can work by altering one's environment to fit their expectations, which corresponds to the evolutionary process known as niche construction [8, 13]. from Veissi`ereet al. [39] 3 Cultural niche construction as active inference Active inference can work by altering one's environment to fit their expectations, which corresponds to the evolutionary process known as niche construction [8, 13]. from Veissi`ereet al. [39] Humans in particular build shared expectations through engagement with common social and material affordances, allowing adaptative cultural niche construction [23, 6] by thinking through other minds [39, 40]. 3 • Occam's razor : Is Active Inference effectively predictive of new facts about human cognition ? [7, 14, 42] • The Optimisation problem : If Active Inference is verified, how is everything not always adaptive ? [9, 10, 16] • The Enactive objective : Can Active Inference account for non-representational engagement with a landscape of affordances ? [2, 4, 5, 16, 22, 26] Common criticism to Active Inference 4 • The Optimisation problem : If Active Inference is verified, how is everything not always adaptive ? [9, 10, 16] • The Enactive objective : Can Active Inference account for non-representational engagement with a landscape of affordances ? [2, 4, 5, 16, 22, 26] Common criticism to Active Inference • Occam's razor : Is Active Inference effectively predictive of new facts about human cognition ? [7, 14, 42] 4 • The Enactive objective : Can Active Inference account for non-representational engagement with a landscape of affordances ? [2, 4, 5, 16, 22, 26] Common criticism to Active Inference • Occam's razor : Is Active Inference effectively predictive of new facts about human cognition ? [7, 14, 42] • The Optimisation problem : If Active Inference is verified, how is everything not always adaptive ? [9, 10, 16] 4 Common criticism to Active Inference • Occam's razor : Is Active Inference effectively predictive of new facts about human cognition ? [7, 14, 42] • The Optimisation problem : If Active Inference is verified, how is everything not always adaptive ? [9, 10, 16] • The Enactive objective : Can Active Inference account for non-representational engagement with a landscape of affordances ? [2, 4, 5, 16, 22, 26] 4 Clarifying active inference The Active Inference framework does not add anything to the explanation of how cognition or culture works. It provides physical grounding to the study of cognition [11] by explaining why dynamical systems must self-organise toward adaptive coupling with their environment. Self-organised adaptive coupling Explanation and (scientific) prediction 5 It provides physical grounding to the study of cognition [11] by explaining why dynamical systems must self-organise toward adaptive coupling with their environment. Self-organised adaptive coupling Explanation and (scientific) prediction The Active Inference framework does not add anything to the explanation of how cognition or culture works. 5 Explanation and (scientific) prediction The Active Inference framework does not add anything to the explanation of how cognition or culture works. It provides physical grounding to the study of cognition [11] by explaining why dynamical systems must self-organise toward adaptive coupling with their environment. Self-organised adaptive coupling 5 The Active Inference framework does not entail that living systems manage to find an optimum in free-energy, making them always adaptive. It entails that existing living systems have historically integrated information helping them gravitate around the stablest attractors they could actually explore [12]. Only historyless systems need reach an optimum. Optimality and history 6 It entails that existing living systems have historically integrated information helping them gravitate around the stablest attractors they could actually explore [12]. Only historyless systems need reach an optimum. Optimality and history The Active Inference framework does not entail that living systems manage to find an optimum in free-energy, making them always adaptive. 6 Optimality and history The Active Inference framework does not entail that living systems manage to find an optimum in free-energy, making them always adaptive. It entails that existing living systems have historically integrated information helping them gravitate around the stablest attractors they could actually explore [12]. Only historyless systems need reach an optimum. 6 Agents under active inference do not engage with their niche by integrating cognitive representations of its features. Predictive knowledge is embodied in the material structure and enacted in the situated activity of an agent [31]. A state-of-the-art statistical model of the woodlice's niche From [? ] (Cognitive) prediction and enaction 7 Predictive knowledge is embodied in the material structure and enacted in the situated activity of an agent [31]. A state-of-the-art statistical model of the woodlice's niche From [? ] (Cognitive) prediction and enaction Agents under active inference do not engage with their niche by integrating cognitive representations of its features. 7 (Cognitive) prediction and enaction Agents under active inference do not engage with their niche by integrating cognitive representations of its features. Predictive knowledge is embodied in the material structure and enacted in the situated activity of an agent [31]. A state-of-the-art statistical model of the woodlice's niche From [? ] 7 Emerging agency as active inference The dense, hierarchical settlements known as City-States developped as the result of long-distance trade [37] and taxation [34], accelerated by the later development of bookkeeping [19] and other institutions [38]. Unknown source City-States as collective organisms The coevolution of functional specialisation of individual [41], writing as a new information system [21], and centralised administration [35] make the evolution of City-States a clear case of evolutionary transition toward collective organism. The City-State complex 8 City-States as collective organisms The coevolution of functional specialisation of individual [41], writing as a new information system [21], and centralised administration [35] make the evolution of City-States a clear case of evolutionary transition toward collective organism. The City-State complex The dense, hierarchical settlements known as City-States developped as the result of long-distance trade [37] and taxation [34], accelerated by the later development of bookkeeping [19] and other institutions [38]. Unknown source 8 The City-State complex The dense, hierarchical settlements known as City-States developped as the result of long-distance trade [37] and taxation [34], accelerated by the later development of bookkeeping [19] and other institutions [38]. Unknown source City-States as collective organisms The coevolution of functional specialisation of individual [41], writing as a new information system [21], and centralised administration [35] make the evolution of City-States a clear case of evolutionary transition toward collective organism. 8 The emergence of collective organisms is precedented
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Leadership, Followership, and Evolution Some Lessons from the Past
    Leadership, Followership, and Evolution Some Lessons From the Past Mark Van Vugt University of Kent Robert Hogan Hogan Assessment Systems Robert B. Kaiser Kaplan DeVries Inc. This article analyzes the topic of leadership from an evo- Second, the literature focuses on leaders and tends to lutionary perspective and proposes three conclusions that ignore the essential role of followers (Hollander, 1992; are not part of mainstream theory. First, leading and Yukl, 2006). Third, research largely concentrates on prox- following are strategies that evolved for solving social imate issues of leadership (e.g., What makes one person a coordination problems in ancestral environments, includ- better leader than others?) and rarely considers its ultimate ing in particular the problems of group movement, intra- functions (e.g., How did leadership promote survival and group peacekeeping, and intergroup competition. Second, reproductive success among our ancestors?) (R. Hogan & the relationship between leaders and followers is inher- Kaiser, 2005). Finally, there has been little cross-fertiliza- ently ambivalent because of the potential for exploitation of tion between psychology and disciplines such as anthro- followers by leaders. Third, modern organizational struc- pology, economics, neuroscience, biology, and zoology, tures are sometimes inconsistent with aspects of our which also contain important insights about leadership evolved leadership psychology, which might explain the (Bennis, 2007; Van Vugt, 2006). alienation and frustration of many citizens and employees. This article offers a view of leadership inspired by The authors draw several implications of this evolutionary evolutionary theory, which modern scholars increasingly analysis for leadership theory, research, and practice. see as essential for understanding social life (Buss, 2005; Lawrence & Nohria, 2002; McAdams & Pals, 2006; Nettle, Keywords: evolution, leadership, followership, game the- 2006; Schaller, Simpson, & Kenrick, 2006).
    [Show full text]
  • Beowulf and Competitive Altruism,” P
    January 2013 Volume 9, Issue 1 ASEBL Journal Association for the Study of Editor (Ethical Behavior)•(Evolutionary Biology) in Literature St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. Gregory F. Tague, Ph.D. ~ Editorial Board ~▪▪~ Kristy Biolsi, Ph.D. THIS ISSUE FEATURES Kevin Brown, Ph.D. Wendy Galgan, Ph.D. † Eric Luttrell, “Modest Heroism: Beowulf and Competitive Altruism,” p. 2 Cheryl L. Jaworski, M.A. † Dena R. Marks, “Secretary of Disorientation: Writing the Circularity of Belief in Elizabeth Costello,” p.11 Anja Müller-Wood, Ph.D. Kathleen A. Nolan, Ph.D. † Margaret Bertucci Hamper, “’The poor little working girl’: The New Woman, Chloral, and Motherhood in The House of Mirth,” p. 19 Riza Öztürk, Ph.D. † Kristin Mathis, “Moral Courage in The Runaway Jury,” p. 22 Eric Platt, Ph.D. † William Bamberger, “A Labyrinthine Modesty: On Raymond Roussel Michelle Scalise Sugiyama, and Chiasmus,” p. 24 Ph.D. ~▪~ Editorial Interns † St. Francis College Moral Sense Colloquium: - Program Notes, p. 27 Tyler Perkins - Kristy L. Biolsi, “What Does it Mean to be a Moral Animal?”, p. 29 - Sophie Berman, “Science sans conscience n’est que ruine de l’âme,” p.36 ~▪~ Kimberly Resnick † Book Reviews: - Lisa Zunshine, editor, Introduction to Cognitive Cultural Studies. Gregory F. Tague, p. 40 - Edward O. Wilson, The Social Conquest of Earth. Wendy Galgan, p. 42 ~▪~ ~ Contributor Notes, p. 45 Announcements, p. 45 ASEBL Journal Copyright©2013 E-ISSN: 1944-401X *~* [email protected] www.asebl.blogspot.com ASEBL Journal – Volume 9 Issue 1, January 2013 Modest Heroism: Beowulf and Competitive Altruism Eric Luttrell Christian Virtues or Human Virtues? Over the past decade, adaptations of Beowulf in popular media have portrayed the eponymous hero as a dim-witted and egotistical hot-head.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 December 19, 2019 the Psychology of Online Political Hostility
    The Psychology of Online Political Hostility: A Comprehensive, Cross-National Test of the Mismatch Hypothesis Alexander Bor* & Michael Bang Petersen Department of Political Science Aarhus University August 30, 2021 Please cite the final version of this paper published in the American Political Science Review at https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055421000885. Abstract Why are online discussions about politics more hostile than offline discussions? A popular answer argues that human psychology is tailored for face-to-face interaction and people’s behavior therefore changes for the worse in impersonal online discussions. We provide a theoretical formalization and empirical test of this explanation: the mismatch hypothesis. We argue that mismatches between human psychology and novel features of online environments could (a) change people’s behavior, (b) create adverse selection effects and (c) bias people’s perceptions. Across eight studies, leveraging cross-national surveys and behavioral experiments (total N=8,434), we test the mismatch hypothesis but only find evidence for limited selection effects. Instead, hostile political discussions are the result of status-driven individuals who are drawn to politics and are equally hostile both online and offline. Finally, we offer initial evidence that online discussions feel more hostile, in part, because the behavior of such individuals is more visible than offline. Acknowledgements This research has benefitted from discussions with Vin Arceneaux, Matt Levendusky, Mark Van Vugt, John Tooby, and members of the Research on Online Political Hostility (ROHP) group, among many others. We are grateful for constructive comments to workshop attendees at the Political Behavior Section of Aarhus University, at the NYU-SMAPP Lab, at the NYU Social Justice Lab, at the Hertie School, and to conference audiences at APSA 2019, HBES 2019, and ROPH 2020.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of Leadership
    Running Head: EVOLUTION OF LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP, FOLLOWERSHIP, AND EVOLUTION Some Lessons from the Past Mark Van Vugt Robert Hogan University of Kent Hogan Assessment Systems Robert B. Kaiser Kaplan DeVries Inc. Abstract This paper analyzes the topic of leadership from an evolutionary perspective and proposes three conclusions that are not part of mainstream theory. First, leading and following are strategies that evolved for solving social coordination problems in ancestral environments, including in particular the problems of group movement, intragroup peace-keeping, and intergroup competition. Second, the relationship between leaders and followers is inherently ambivalent due to the potential for exploitation by leaders. Third, modern organizational structures are sometimes inconsistent with aspects of our evolved leadership psychology, which might explain the alienation and frustration of many citizens and employees. The authors draw several implications of this evolutionary analysis for leadership theory, research, and practice. Key Words: EVOLUTION, LEADERSHIP, FOLLOWERSHIP, GAME THEORY, MISMATCH HYPOTHESIS Manuscript # 2006-0958RR in press at American Psychologist Please do not cite or circulate without permission from the authors 11 December, 2007 Author notes Mark Van Vugt is professor of social psychology at the University of Kent; Robert Hogan is the President of Hogan Assessment Systems; Rob Kaiser is the Director of Research & Development and a Partner with Kaplan DeVries Inc. The authors contributed equally to this paper. We are indebted to Rob Kurzban for his intellectual input and to Robin Dunbar, Dominic Johnson, Muhammad Ghufran Ahmad, and Peter Richerson for their comments on previous drafts. We also acknowledge constructive criticism from William C. Howell and three anonymous reviewers.
    [Show full text]
  • Nudging Evolutionary Mismatched Behaviors
    Evolutionary Mismatch 1 Nudging Evolutionary Mismatched Behaviors: Implications for Social Psychology and Public Policy Mark van Vugt Lianne P. De Vries Norman P. Li To appear in: J.P. Forgas, K. Fiedler, & W.D. Crano, Sydney Symposium of Social Psychology Draft: 26 April 2019 Word count: approximately 5000 (excl. references) Correspondence address: Mark van Vugt, Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, [email protected] Evolutionary Mismatch 2 Introduction Aliens visiting planet Earth would find Homo Sapiens a remarkable species. They would discover astonishing examples of human intelligence and ingenuity such as airplanes, skyscrapers, electricity, and the internet. At the same time, they would also witness our miserable failure in preventing poverty, violence, disease, and ecological disasters. Humans are both highly intelligent and highly stupid, the alien anthropologists would probably conclude. It is true, we humans are very good at some things but very bad at others. People are able to recognize the faces of persons they met many years ago, but they easily misremember the telephone numbers of their best friends. People are very patient in accumulating knowledge and training skills through a long period of intense education, but they are not patient enough to save money for their pension or resist the temptation of a Big Mac. And, although most people would be reluctant to steal from shopkeepers, these same individuals have no moral reservations to illegally download music and movies from the net. Why is it that humans are very good at some things but very bad at others? Why is it that we can learn some things much quicker and easier than others? What does this tell us about human psychology, and what can we learn from this for public policy? Here we argue that the human mind, with all its strengths and weaknesses, follows a logical, predictable pattern.
    [Show full text]
  • Harnessing Stone Age Psychological Biases to Foster Environmental Behavior
    Naturally Green: Harnessing Stone Age Psychological Biases to Foster Environmental Behavior Mark van Vugt VU University and University of Oxford ∗ Vladas Griskevicius University of Minnesota P. Wesley Schultz California State University It is widely agreed that humans must reduce their environmental impact. We propose that an improved understanding of our evolved human nature can help to improve programs and policies to address environmental problems. Combining evolutionary and social psychological approaches, we argue that environmental problems are often caused or exacerbated by five evolutionarily adaptive psychological biases: Humans (1) value personal over collective outcomes (self-interest), (2) prefer immediate over delayed rewards (shortsightedness), (3) value relative over absolute status (status), (4) copy the behaviors of others (social imitation), and (5) ignore problems that we cannot see or feel (sensing). By considering how and why these five “Stone Age” biases continue to influence modern environmental practices, although acknowledging the role of individual and cultural differences, we present novel ways that human nature can be harnessed to develop intervention strategies to lessen resource depletion, restrain wasteful consumption, curb overpopulation, and foster green choices. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Mark van Vugt, Professor of Psychology, Department of Social and Organizational∗ Psychology, VU University, van der Boe- chorsstraat 1, Room 1B-57, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31205985323(8700); [e-mail: [email protected]]. Personal website (www.professormarkvanvugt.com) This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Van Vugt, M., Griskevicius, V., & Schultz, P. W. (2014). Naturally green: Harnessing “stone age” biases to foster environmental conservation behavior. Social Issues and Policy Review, 8, 1- 32.
    [Show full text]
  • States in Mind Anthony C. Lopez, Rose Mcdermott, and Michael
    States in Mind States in Mind Anthony C. Lopez, Rose McDermott, and Evolution, Coalitional Psychology, and Michael Bang International Politics Petersen One of the most com- monly studied puzzles in international politics is the recurrence of coalitional competition and aggression between political groups such as states. Indeed, this pattern constitutes an enduring and central feature of all politics. Yet de- spite the tragic endurance of this leitmotif throughout history, its manifestation varies through time and space. Some wars are fought for honor or revenge, whereas others are ignited for mere opportunism or as a consequence of vari- ous misperceptions, whatever their source. We argue that evolutionary theory provides a theoretical framework that can explain both the stubborn endur- ance and dynamic diversity of coalitional behavior. Debate on the relevance of “human nature” and biological factors for explaining political behavior is not new.1 Yet the comprehensive value of evo- lutionary theory for explaining important aspects of international politics has not been adequately explicated. As we discuss below, this has in part been a consequence of general skepticism about the validity and scope of evolution- ary theory for explaining political behavior. We argue, however, that evolu- tionary psychology can generate falsiªable ex ante predictions that are of central interest to the study of international politics, and we offer several hy- potheses derived from this model to illustrate the depth of this approach. Evo- lutionary psychologists have already generated a large body of work that suggests that the human brain contains webs of psychological mechanisms, or adaptations, each designed to operate in domains relevant to modern politics, and which emerged as a product of natural selection.
    [Show full text]
  • ASSOCIATION for PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE About the Authors
    Psychological Science in the PUBLIC INTEREST CONTENTS Volume 9 Number 2 November 2008 Current Status and Future Prospects of Clinical Psychology Toward a Scientifically Principled Approach to Mental and Behavioral Health Care Timothy B. Baker, Richard M. McFall, and Varda Shoham 68 Introduction 68 Clinical Psychology in the Context of Public Health: Addressing Society’s Needs 69 Criteria for Data-Driven Decision Making in Mental Health Care Efficacy Effectiveness and Dissemination Potential Costs and Cost-Effectiveness Scientific Plausibility Summary 73 Merits of Psychosocial Interventions and Future Prospects of Clinical Psychology The Good News: Empirical Support for Psychosocial Interventions The Bad News: Psychology’s Failure to Develop as an Applied Science 83 Concluding Analysis and Recommendations Analysis Search for Solutions The Need for a New Science-Centered Accreditation System A New Accreditation System System Features Mechanisms and Effects of This New Accreditation System Concluding Note 89 Appendix Cognitive Therapy (CT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for Depression CBT for Panic Disorder CBT for Bulimia Nervosa CBT for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT) for Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Other Interventions A JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE About the Authors Timothy B. Baker is Professor of Medicine in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. His principal research goals are to increase understanding of the motivational bases of addictive
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolutionary Psychology of Leadership
    The Nature in 5 Leadership Evolutionary, Biological, and Social Neuroscience Perspectives Mark Van Vugt VU University Amsterdam University of Oxford hen a honey bee returns to its hive after foraging for nectar, it per- W forms a dance for the other bees. The bee skips around making a figure-eight movement, waggling its abdomen as it does so. In 2005, scientists found out that the dancer is indicating through its moves the location and quality of a foraging site (Riley, Greggers, Smith, Reynolds, & Menzel, 2005). The direction the bee is facing points to the direction of the food source rela- tive to the sun; the duration of the waggle dance represents how far the source lies and its quality. Scientists proved it by setting up artificial food sources and monitoring the behavior of the bees that scrutinized a waggle dance. When the hive was moved 250 meters, the follower bees flew to a site that was 250 meters away from the artificial source, proving that the follower bees were following navigational instructions encoded in the waggle dance. It pro- ved a theory first put forward by the Nobel Prize–winning biologist, Karl von Frisch, in the 1960s. The dancer bee is in fact acting as a leader by scouting out food resources for the hive. The best dancers recruit the most followers, and this interaction produces a very efficient group performance. AUTHOR’S NOTE: Please address correspondence concerning this chapter to Mark Van Vugt, VU University Amsterdam/University of Oxford, van der Boechorsstraat l, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands. e-mail: [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • COMPETITIVE ALTRUISM Giving for Glory in Social Dilemmas
    Competitive altruism 1 Running Head: COMPETITIVE ALTRUISM Giving for Glory in Social Dilemmas: The Competitive Altruism Hypothesis Charlie L. Hardy and Mark Van Vugt University of Kent at Canterbury Please do not quote without permission! Word Count: 9840 Competitive altruism 2 Abstract Three experimental studies examined the relationship between altruistic behavior and the emergence of status hierarchies within groups. In each study, group members were confronted with a social dilemma in which they could either benefit themselves or their group. Studies 1 and 2 revealed that when members’ contributions were public, the most altruistic members gained the highest status in their group, and were most frequently preferred as cooperative interaction partners. Study 3 showed that high status members behaved more altruistically than low status members. These results support the idea that by behaving altruistically group members “compete” for social status within their group. Keywords: Altruism, Social Dilemmas, Social Status, Evolutionary Psychology Competitive altruism 3 Giving for Glory in Social Dilemmas: The Competitive Altruism Hypothesis Humans are social animals. This phrase is often stated in the social and evolutionary literatures (Aronson, 1990; Buss, 2004; Forsyth, 1999), but what does it actually mean? The answer centers on issues of selfishness and altruism. Whereas most other mammals help each other only within small kinship groups, humans have the unique ability to form and cooperate within large social groups, which include many genetic strangers (McAndrew, 2002). For example, humans invest time and energy in helping other members in their neighborhood and make frequent donations to charity (Van Vugt, Snyder, Tyler, & Biel, 2000). They come to each other’s rescue in crises and disasters (Van Vugt & Samuelson, 1999).
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolved Functions of Procedural Fairness: an Adaptation for Politics
    March 2015 The Evolved Functions of Procedural Fairness: An Adaptation for Politics Troels Bøggild Department of Political Science Aarhus University, Denmark E-mail: [email protected] Michael Bang Petersen Department of Political Science Aarhus University, Denmark E-mail: [email protected] Chapter accepted for publication in Todd K. Shackelford & Ranald D. Hansen (Eds.), The Evolution of Morality, New York: Springer. 1 Abstract: Politics is the process of determining resource allocations within and between groups. Group life has constituted a critical and enduring part of human evolutionary history and we should expect the human mind to contain psychological adaptations for dealing with political problems. Previous research has in particular focused on adaptations designed to produce moral evaluations of political outcomes: is the allocation of resources fair? People, however, are not only concerned about outcomes. They also readily produce moral evaluations of the political processes that shape these outcomes. People have a sense of procedural fairness. In this chapter, we identify the adaptive functions of the human psychology of procedural fairness. We argue that intuitions about procedural fairness evolved to deal with adaptive problems related to the delegation of leadership and, specifically, to identify and counter-act exploitative leaders. In the chapter, we first introduce the concept of procedural fairness, review extant social psychological theories and make the case for why an evolutionary approach is needed. Next, we dissect the evolved functions of procedural fairness and review extant research in favor of the evolutionary account. Finally, we discuss how environmental mismatches between ancestral and modern politics make procedural fairness considerations even more potent in modern politics, creating a powerful source of moral outrage.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Nature? the Myth of the Ecological Noble Savage
    Human - Nature: A Darwinian Psychology of Environmental Sustainability Prof. Mark van Vugt Social and Organisational Psychology, VU University Amsterdam ICEA, University of Oxford [email protected] Key publications • Griskevicus, V., Cantu, S., & Van Vugt, M. (2012). The evolutionary bases for sustainable behavior. Journal of Public Policy and Marketing • Griskevicius , V., Tybur, J., Delton, A., & Robertson, T. (2011). The influence of mortality and socioeconomic status on risk and delayed rewards: A life history approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. • Van Vugt, M. (2009), “Averting the Tragedy of the Commons: Using Social Psychological Science to Protect the Environment,” Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18, 169-173. • Van Vugt, M., and C. Hardy (2010), “Cooperation for Reputation: Wasteful Contributions as Costly Signals in Public Goods,” Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 13, 1-11. • Van Vugt, M. (2001). Community identification moderating the impact of financial incentives in a natural social dilemma: A water shortage. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 1440-1449. Van Vugt, M., Van Lange, P. A. M., Meertens, R. M. and Joireman, J. A.Vladas (1996). Why Griskevicius structural solutions to social dilemmas might fail: A field experiment on the first carpool priority lane in Europe (link). Social Psychology Quarterly, 59 , 364-374. • Van Vugt, M. (2001), “Community Identification Moderating the Impact of Financial Incentives in a Natural Social Dilemma: Water Conservation,” Personality
    [Show full text]