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I've always felt that what humans claim as intelligence was merely social solipsism: Humans are very obviously involved in deception, detecting social deception, and gauging perceived reciprocity, which is not the same as actual reciprocity. All scial species appear t assess individuals of theri own and other species, in order to predict likely future behaviors - to be able to choose how and whether they want to interact. Wolves, for instance and dogs, both recognize deception. One day recently, a raven was stashing food on my wooden roof, and became visibly worried when seeing me observing, desiring to continue, but instead removing and re-hiding the items, suddenly flustered and indecisive.
Such developmental concepts as Theory of Mind are highly involved with merely testing the ability of children to detect whether an individual understands deception; whereas other species remain strongly tied to sensory attention to predict probable actions of others. I have observed useful deception in several unrelated mammal species, but the social primates are most involved in temporary, bicycle-breakaway type temporary amicability, later willing to stab a friend in the back to gain status/reproductive opportunity.
Primates scheme socially, the human most egregiously, and our overvaunted forebrain requires even more additional associative area to necessarily become larger as well. This evolutionist persp[ective explores why what we exhibit contrasts with what we imagine we are. Presently, fMRI and other imaging shows how much of our brain is used in this scheming and detection.
Psychologists and behavioral science majors are desperately in need of this compilation, without which they will merely bumble along, religiously misconceiving, keeping us in the dark ages.
Way back in the 1970s Trivers began to understand that we are so good at Machiavellian scamming that in order to successfully deceive others we may indeed have to deceive ourselves. I think the book will even give insight into why and how the DSM changes so much. The public, including especially those who pursue leadership, war, competition and other specious symbols of social status, are unmasked within.
This conversational publication of early work and realizations is a MUST-READ for those who wish to understand human sociality. While the species does have some good attributes, this book will help ground your understanding that most of our social cognition is developed through fantasy and imagination to maximize our relative social status.
Ludwig von Beethoven once said that music is a higher revelation than all religion or philosophy. Trivers here ties together the symphony of his work. As you will see with an understanding of biopsychology, neurology, comparative animal behavior and cognition now being discovered, even the soaring achievements of music, poetry, mathematics, science, physical arts, quickly become mere tools for human climbing over others.
I have not finished the book yet, but new brain mapping and a broad understanding of comparative ethology back up Trivers' hypotheses.
- Series: Evolution and Cognition
- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Oxford University Press (September 5, 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0195130626
- ISBN-13: 978-0195130621
- Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 0.9 x 6.1 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
- Average Customer Review: 6 customer reviews
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Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#1,115,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #490 in Botany (Books)
- #601 in Physical Anthropology (Books)
- #907 in Zoology (Books)
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