week 5 - social brain, social cognition, social behaviour

Explain a complex brain

More complex = larger brain

Human has most complex and dense brain = a lot more processing is happening

What is meant by the neocortex

Human have a big neocortex

It’s where we do complex functions

What is meant by social behavior

The interactions between individuals that influence survival and reproduction

It’s beneficial as it’s past down thru generations

Can be + and -

Explain the social brain ; the social intelligence hypothesis

• The more social a species is the more intelligent the species is

• The bigger the social group size, the bigger the neocortex size

• Brain size increased because the cognitive demands is high in social species

  
  

What does the social brain help with?

• Understand emotions , intentions and expressions of others

• optimal interaction

• Evolution = change brain to work in social settings

• Acts to aid survival in social environments

Explain the Evolutionary hypothesis

• we cannot observe brain evolution

• Comparison, behavioural, experiment, ecological evidence all together to come up with the idea

Explain ecological brain

• disagree with social brain

• Complex environment = bigger brain

• To build skills = complex thinking = bigger brain

Factor of the social brain

Explain cultural evolution

Cultural behaviours are ;

• Learned behaviors → thru social learning

• Skills passed down by generations → culture

• Regionally specific

Benefits of being social

Strong friendships =

higher infant survival,

longer lifespan,

better access to resources,

increased reproductive success

List how we can understand what others are doing

Observing

Perspective taking

Communication

Attention to behavior

Neural systems for action understanding

Explain mirror neurons

Neurons fired when ;

• watch an action

• Do the action

  
  

from same area of brain

how can mirror neurons help recognize actions

Help understand and mirror actions yourself

Support observing learning

Play a role in social interaction

What doesn’t mirror neurons help explain

Empathy

Theory of mind

Language evolution

Explain the Machiavellian intelligence hypothesis

Intelligence evolved to manipulate, deceive, cooperate, compete and form alliances

Understanding others intentions, predicting behaviour and managing relationships are cognitively demanding = more brain power = bigger brain

Explain the dominance rank ; Machiavellian intelligence hypothesis

• compete for dominance rank

• Form alliances or exploit to take over weaker or stronger individuals

Explain deception : Machiavellian intelligence hypothesis

• use honest behaviour in misleading way

• Act like down want something but want it

  
  

Explain theory of mind

Ability to understand mental states ;

What others intended to do

Beliefs

Goals

Knowledge

Explain the mirror recognition test

Spot of paint above eye

If touches face = self recognitions (concept of self)

Explain the false believe test

Understand If know that others have minds and beliefs

Fail = age 3 under

Pass = age 4-5

Test theory of mind

Explain language as a social tool

Grooming → means friendship

Grooming is a form of bonding → not much time to do it

Primates never spend→ 20% of time grooming

Humans should spend 45% of day grooming → language replace grooming → more efficient → helps bond

More social groups = more socially complex

explain stress response ; What happens when we interact

Stressor → endocrine response → survival

Stressor = predictable→ pregnancy, cold/heat stress

unpredictable → fighting for life

Endocrine response = fight or flight response . Hormones = gives energy

Adaptive process for short term

how can we measure stress; non invasive

Heart rate and blood (time lag ; immediate)

Saliva ( time late ; 10-20 mins)

Urine (time lag; 4-6 hours)

Faeces (time late : 24-48 hours)

Time lag = lag for how long the stress hormones show up in body

Hormones and endocrinology ; advantages and disadvantages

advantages → non invasive, physiological measure (objective)

disadvantages → High cost to analyse , hard to collect, time consuming

Explain stress in baboon and female baboon

More socially isolated you are = higher your stress level is

Higher rank and connectedness you are = lower your stress levels are

Social instability = fighting for top seat (high stress for top seat)

Stress levels increase when new make arrives

Negatives to having prolonged stress

• increased heart rate and blood pressure

• Hypertension

• Cardiovascular Disease

What influences prolonged stress

Environment

Work

Poverty

How social you are

Loneliness

Socioeconomic background

What are the coping mechanisms for long term stress

• exercise

• Problem solving

• Emotional regulation

• Social support

Explain Low social economic status ; stress levels

Lower your SES = hugger your stress levels

Due to;

Poorer ; health care, nutrition, quality if life, freedom , education. More manual jobs and worry

Explain how complex social economics status is

Complex as people with higher SES jobs were more stressed

Explain the role of social support

Stress response not always fight or flight

Tend and befriend → in high stress situation we turn to people in times of need

Seek support

Form alliances

Protect loved ones

Explain what will happen if lack of social support

Increased deaths

Feelings of loneliness → increased stress→ increase suicide

Explain social exclusion

If you feel like you are being socially excluded→ the distress activates the same part of the brain (ACC) that feels physical pain

Acts as a warning system → threat to social connections→ encourages actions for survival and to be included

Explain the applications in social exclusion

• help develop more effective pain management

• Inform public health strategies→ reduce negative health impacts

• Improve interventions→ addressing physical pain symptoms

Mental health

Online exclusion

Peer sensitivity

Explain lending a hand ; social connection

Not holding a hand → feelings of unpleasantness

Holding partner hand→ feelings of unpleasantness significantly lower (strong social support)

Holding stranger hand →limited social support

Explain fairness and cooperation

People are more likely to work together when they feel they are being treated fairly

• Cooperation →when people work together , they need to share the rewards they receive

• People notice when things are unfair → get upset if not fair

• Unfairness can damage cooperation

• Treating each other fairly builds trust

Explain peer influence on risk and decision making

Adolescence (young adult) known to take more risks than children or adults ;

• reckless driving, binge eating, smoking/vaping

Being around peers increase activity in the brains reward system→ makes risky behavior feel more rewarding → leads to more risks taken

• sensation seeking

• Impulsivity

• Resistance to peer influence

Considerations in peer influence on risk and decision making

Gender differences → males more susceptible to peer influence than female

NOT all peer influence is negative → if supportive = reduce risk

Why does peer influence on risk and decision affect teenagers more than adults?

Teenager brain more sensitive to rewards when friends are present = more risks than adults

Reward system develops faster than ability to control impulses and make more careful decisions

Explain application for peer influence on risk and decision making

Public health campaigns

Driving safety laws

Alcohol and drug use