Social Cognition of Us and We
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Social Cognition of Us and We Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 LANGUAGE CULTURE are both inherently and essntially social! Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Most of our psychological theories describe the mind of an individual Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 As we come to learn more, perhaps we could learn to understand mind as inherently social as well? This might help us to avoid the trap of solipsism. Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 It is unclear whether we are justified in treating these two domains as if they were distinct. social Psychological social Psychological social Psychological Psychological social social social Psychological Psychological Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 The [external] world is its own best representation --Rodney Brooks Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 What is your environment? Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Surfaces designed for humans Which elements here present the greatest challenge for you? Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Interdisciplinary interest Social psychology Developmental Comparative psychology psychology Social Cognition Cognitive neuroscience Computer science and artificial intelligence Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 A little revision Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 The Altricial - Precocial Spectrum Altricial Precocial • Helpless at birth • Able to cope at birth • Underdeveloped • Relatively developed >20 years of development after birth Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Learning is done in a social Lev Vygotsky context. Cognitive functions develop first between people, and only later become internalized Meaning and significance come from the web of social relations we live within. We first encounter meaning in an inter-personal context, and later appropriate this for our selves: internalization Zone of Proximal Development Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 The Cooperative Eye Hypothesis Michael Tomasello, 2006 Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Of all the apes, only humans have a clear contrast between the white of the eye (sclera) and the iris. What might the effect of this contrast be? Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Patterns of eye contact in autistic individuals are radically different Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Human Ape Ape in Planet of the Apes Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Joint Attention Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Joint Attention and language evolution • Michael Tomasello: man and ape share 99% of genetic material • Yet enormous difference in cognitive skills (language!) • Solution: Joint Attention enables cultural learning • Only one biological adaptation needed! End of revision Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Did you ever try to point something out to a dog? Not all animals exhibit joint attention. Chimps may (somewhat) Chimps will look in the direction that the head of another chimp (or human) points. We follow the eyes….. Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Last common ancestor of chimp and human: ca 5 - 15 million years ago Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Humans and Other Primates § The human species is one kind of primate, a subgroup of mammals that includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes. § Humans are most closely related to the great apes: –chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutangs ★ Please don’t confuse monkeys and apes. Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 eusocial animals: social roles are fixed (by and large) Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Eusocial Mammals Naked mole rat (Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia) Also the Damaraland mole rat (Namibia) Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Naked Mole Rat Video Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Primates spend their lives defining, defending, and improving upon their social roles. Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Chimpanzee Bonobo § Communities with open subgroups § Communities with open subgroups § Males generally move § Females generally move § Male dominance with mother § Female dominance important in determining rank § Strong mother-child bonds § Maintain strong mother-child bond § Grooming is a common pastime § Grooming is a common pastime § Promiscuous sex in all varieties § Promiscuous sex when female is § Settle disputes through sex fertile § Dependence upon cultural behavior § Settle disputes by aggressive behavior § Make trail markers § Dependence upon cultural behavior § Females hunt in groups and share kill § Make and use tools § Males hunt in groups and share kill Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Reconciliation and Its Cultural Modification in Primates § There is evidence for reconciliation in more than 25 different primate species. § Reconciliation is common mechanism found whenever relationships need to be maintained despite occasional conflict. § Chimpanzees are the only animals to use mediators in conflict resolution. § Reconciliation is a learned social skill subject to what primatologists now increasingly call “culture”. Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 A curious tale from neuroscience: Spindle Cell Neurons Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Q: What anatomical differences are there between ape brains and monkey brains? A: Very little. Larger frontal cortex. hemispheric specialization. Spindle cells. Spindle cells (a.k.a. von Economo neurons) are sparsely distributed in certain cortical areas in apes. Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Curiously, their distribution is similar to the degree of social embeddedness of the individual species. Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 In most apes, they are found only in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex… a part of the brain that responds to social signals and threats. In humans, they extend out into pre-frontal cortex. Their function is not known, but evidence suggests that it is related to the social complexity of the lives of each species. Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Convergent Evolution: Same problem, Same opportunity, Similar solution e.g. the eye has evolved several times (with slightly different results, but each taking advantage of visual information). The recognition of convergent evolution tells us that there is an important similarity between the cases. What do they have in common? Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 North American Australian hopping mouse kangaroo rat North African jerboa Asian jerboa Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 The North American kangaroo rat, Australian hopping mice, and North African and Asian jerboa have developed convergent adaptations for hot desert environments; these include a small rounded body shape with very large hind legs and long thin tails, a characteristic bipedal hop, and nocturnal, burrowing and seed- eating behaviours. These rodent groups fill similar niches in their respective ecosystems. Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Astonishingly, spindle cells have recently been found in the forebrain of a female humpback whale, and in small numbers in a few other cetaceans! Female humpbacks are richly social, but we know relatively little about their social lives. Convergent Evolution, but WHY? What is the common (social?) problem that these cells help solve? Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Even more recently, spindle cells have also been found in Elephants, another intensely social animal. Please note: we are avoiding any approach that might claim to know what these cells do. Clearly we can learn from these findings something about our commonalities with these other animals, and something about the role of the nervous system in sustaining our specific forms of social organisation. Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Some Sad Stories from Social Psychology In the studies to be discussed, we need to ask “What are the anxieties that are widespread within society that give rise to these very problematic studies” Social psychology seems to respond to the worries of the moment Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Case 1: Harry Harlow Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Harry Harlow (1905-1981): Creepy Scientist…. Provided monkey babies with 2 surrogate mothers: 1 wire frame, hard, unlovely, with milk. One soft, attractive, but dry. This demonstrated that monkeys need social touch and affection (duh). Used creepy terms like “the pit of despair”, “the rape rack”, etc in his work. Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 Harlow’s experiments on social bonding, maternal separation, isolation, etc. fed a hunger from the public for advice on how best to interact with human infants. Psychology often seems to play this odd role. The pit of despair…... Introduction to Cognitive Science, COMP 20090 A pop-up robot used to scare small monkeys in Harlow’s lab His experiments may have contributed to the creation of the animal liberation movement in the USA, and to the development of the awareness