Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
06:18
The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm
Published on: October 20, 2022
Ape society: trading favours
1Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution & Scottish Primate Research Group, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, UK. rwb@st-andrews.ac.uk
Current Biology : CB
|September 7, 2007
Summary
Alpha-male chimpanzees trade mating rights for political support from rivals. This exchange of sex for power suggests such bartering may be less cognitively complex than previously assumed.
Area of Science:
- Primate behavior
- Evolutionary psychology
- Animal social dynamics
Background:
- Dominance hierarchies are common in social animals.
- Resource allocation, including mating opportunities, is a key aspect of social competition.
- Previous research has focused on direct competition rather than indirect exchange of resources.
Discussion:
- The study observes an alpha-male chimpanzee allocating mating opportunities to gain support from rivals.
- This behavior represents a form of reciprocal altruism or social exchange.
- The findings challenge the notion that such complex exchanges are uniquely human or cognitively demanding.
Key Insights:
- Chimpanzees engage in sophisticated social bargaining, trading "sex for power."
- This exchange demonstrates a flexible use of resources to maintain social status.
- The cognitive requirements for such reciprocal exchanges may be underestimated.
Outlook:
- Further research can explore the prevalence of such exchanges in other primate species.
- Investigating the cognitive mechanisms underlying these social trades is crucial.
- Understanding these dynamics can provide insights into the evolution of human social behavior.
Related Concept Videos
01:52Persuasion Strategies
Researchers have tested many persuasion strategies, including the foot-in-the door and the door-in-the-face techniques, in a variety of contexts. Ultimately, the principles are effective in selling products and changing people’s attitude, ideas, and behaviors (Cialdini & Goldstein, 2004).
02:06Social Exchange Theory
We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003).
01:26Social Exchange Theory
As formulated by John Thibaut and Harold Kelley, Social Exchange Theory explains human relationships as economic-like exchanges that maximize rewards and minimize costs. This theory suggests that individuals engage in relationships to gain benefits and reduce burdens, similar to economic transactions. It has been widely applied to various types of relationships, including romantic, professional, and social interactions.Rewards and Costs in RelationshipsRelationship rewards include emotional...
01:29Impression Management Techniques II: Ingratiation
Ingratiation refers to deliberate behaviors aimed at increasing one’s attractiveness or likability to a target person, often for strategic interpersonal or social gain. This set of impression management tactics is especially prevalent in hierarchical contexts, where influencing someone with greater power or authority can yield significant benefits. Several distinct ingratiation strategies have been identified, each leveraging psychological cues to foster favor and affiliation.Opinion...
01:29Impression Management Techniques I: Managing Appearances
Appearance is a multidimensional aspect of self-presentation that encompasses observable attributes such as clothing, grooming, speech, and nonverbal behavior. These elements are often strategically managed to align with socially constructed expectations in different settings. For instance, individuals tailor their appearance during job interviews, social gatherings, or athletic events to meet the perceived norms of those environments.Contextual Adaptation and Social SignalsThe research...
01:03Altruism
Altruistic behaviors are “unselfish” behaviors—those that help another individual at the expense of the individual carrying out the behavior. Despite the negative consequences for the altruistic animal, these behaviors are thought to have evolved for several reasons.