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Published on: December 7, 2018
Potential disadvantages of using socially acquired information
Luc-Alain Giraldeau1, Thomas J Valone, Jennifer J Templeton
1Département des Sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Case Postale 8888, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC Canada H3C 3P8. giraldeau.luc@uqam.ca
Summary
Socially acquired information isn't always beneficial. Its profitability depends on information compatibility and can lead to costly informational cascades, suggesting a need to focus on social cues over observed behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Socially acquired information is often assumed to be advantageous for individuals.
- However, the conditions under which this information is beneficial are not fully understood.
- Previous research has not extensively explored scenarios where social information acquisition is costly or non-beneficial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To challenge the assumption that socially acquired information is always profitable.
- To explore hypothetical scenarios where using social information provides no benefit or incurs costs.
- To investigate the role of informational cascades in potentially leading to sub-optimal decisions in social animals.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical exploration of hypothetical scenarios.
- Analysis of information acquisition strategies (personal vs. social).
- Modeling of decision-making processes influenced by social cues and behavioral actions.
Main Results:
- The profitability of socially acquired information is contingent on the compatibility between acquiring personal and social information.
- Simultaneous acquisition of personal and social information may negate any benefits.
- Social information can lead to informational cascades, potentially resulting in sub-optimal behavior, especially when decisions are based on observed actions rather than underlying cues.
Conclusions:
- Socially acquired information is not universally beneficial and can be costly.
- The structure of information acquisition influences its profitability.
- In costly informational cascades, individuals may benefit more from attending to social cues than directly to others' behavioral decisions.
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