On understanding the nature and evolution of social cognition: a need for the study of communication

Abstract

Social cognition involves a wide range of processes, including the ability to recognize group members, to remember past interactions with them and to influence their behaviour strategically. Key arguments and findings in studies of the evolution of social cognition revolve around individuals flexibly and adaptively influencing the behaviour of others. One of the most effective ways of influencing the behaviour of others is through communication. Curiously, however, research focused on the evolution of social cognition rarely addresses communication in the species being studied. Here we describe four major hypotheses to explain the evolution of social cognition and, for each, raise specific predictions regarding communication and how it relates to social cognition. We argue that because communication is foundational to social cognition, studies of communication should be a core feature of future work on the evolution of social cognition.