Cited by 349Language and cultural evolutionChild and Animal Learning DevelopmentEvolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

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A bias for social information in human cultural transmission

Mesoudi, Alex, Whiten, Andrew, Dunbar, Robin·2006·British Journal of Psychology

DOI 10.1348/000712605x85871

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Abstract

Evolutionary theories concerning the origins of human intelligence suggest that cultural transmission might be biased toward social over non-social information. This was tested by passing social and non-social information along multiple chains of participants. Experiment 1 found that gossip, defined as information about intense third-party social relationships, was transmitted with significantly greater accuracy and in significantly greater quantity than equivalent non-social information concerning individual behaviour or the physical environment. Experiment 2 replicated this finding controlling for narrative coherence, and additionally found that information concerning everyday non-gossip social interactions was transmitted just as well as the intense gossip interactions. It was therefore concluded that human cultural transmission is biased toward information concerning social interactions over equivalent non-social information.

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Authors: Mesoudi, A., Whiten, A., & Dunbar, R.
Affiliations: University of St Andrews (GB)
University of Liverpool (GB)
Corresponding author: Mesoudi, Alex
ORCID: Mesoudi, Alex
Whiten, Andrew
Dunbar, Robin
Venue: British Journal of Psychology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2006-08
Volume: 97
Issue: 3
Pages: 405-423
ISSN: 0007-1269 (ISSN-L)
2044-8295
DOI: 10.1348/000712605x85871
OpenAlex: W2047815179
Cited by: 349
References: 58
Citations by year: 2026: 5 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 48 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 10
FWCI: 254.67
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 1606 d)
Locations: British Journal of Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: University of Denver
British Academy
British Psychological Society
University of St Andrews
Topics: Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Language and cultural evolution
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Keywords: cultural transmission, social information, gossip, social learning, narrative coherence, social interaction, evolutionary theory of cognition
MeSH terms: Adult, Communication, Cultural Characteristics, Cultural Evolution, Female, Humans, Intelligence, Interpersonal Relations, Machiavellianism, Male, Social Values, Socialization, Information Dissemination

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A bias for social information in human cultural transmission

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