Cited by 1,068Primate Behavior and EcologyLanguage and cultural evolutionEvolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

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The Social Brain: Mind, Language, and Society in Evolutionary Perspective

Dunbar, R.I.M.·2003·Annual Review of Anthropology

DOI 10.1146/annurev.anthro.32.061002.093158

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Abstract

▪ Abstract The social brain (or Machiavellian Intelligence) hypothesis was proposed to explain primates' unusually large brains: It argues that the cognitive demands of living in complexly bonded social groups selected for increases in executive brain (principally neocortex). The evidence for this and alternative hypotheses is reviewed. Although there remain difficulties of interpretation, the bulk of the evidence comes down in favor of the social brain hypothesis. The extent to which the cognitive demands of bonding large intensely social groups involve aspects of social cognition, such as theory of mind, is explored. These findings are then related to the evolution of social group size, language, and culture within the hominid lineage.

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Authors: Dunbar, R. I. M.
Affiliations: University of Liverpool (GB)
Corresponding author: Dunbar, R.I.M.
ORCID: Dunbar, R.I.M.
Venue: Annual Review of Anthropology
Publisher: Annual Reviews
Published: 2003-10
Volume: 32
Issue: 1
Pages: 163-181
ISSN: 0084-6570 (ISSN-L)
1545-4290
DOI: 10.1146/annurev.anthro.32.061002.093158
OpenAlex: W2130307024
Cited by: 1,068
References: 68
Citations by year: 2026: 27 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 78 · 2021: 97 · 2020: 62 · 2019: 68 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 59 · 2016: 64 · 2015: 61 · 2014: 51 · 2013: 40 · 2012: 58
FWCI: 2.48
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Annual Review of Anthropology (publishedVersion)
Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) (University of Oxford) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Primate Behavior and Ecology
Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Language and cultural evolution
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Keywords: social brain hypothesis, Machiavellian intelligence, primate brain evolution, neocortex, social cognition, theory of mind, social group size, language evolution, cultural evolution, hominid evolution, social bonding

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The Social Brain: Mind, Language, and Society in Evolutionary Perspective

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