The co-evolution of cooperation and communication: Alternative accounts

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Anthropology
• Cognitive Science
• Human Behavior

Background:

• Ostensive communication, a human-specific trait, involves signaling attention to facilitate information transfer.
• Partner-choice ecology, focusing on mate selection, has been proposed as a driver for the evolution of ostensive communication.
• The precise evolutionary origins of complex human communication remain a subject of active research and debate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the hypothesis that partner-choice ecology is the primary driver for the evolutionary emergence of ostensive communication in humans.
• To explore alternative evolutionary pathways and contributing factors to the development of ostensive communication and cooperation.
• To investigate the potential role of technology use in the cognitive evolution underlying human-specific traits.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis and review of existing literature on ostensive communication, partner-choice ecology, and human cognitive evolution.
• Comparative analysis of proposed evolutionary models.
• Conceptual modeling of the interplay between communication, cooperation, and technology.

Main Results:

• The proposed link between partner-choice ecology and ostensive communication is challenged.
• Evidence suggests that ostensive communication may instead promote the evolution of cooperation.
• The use of technology is identified as a potential ancient contributor influencing both ostensive communication and cooperation.

Conclusions:

• Partner-choice ecology is unlikely to be the sole or primary explanation for the evolution of ostensive communication.
• A reciprocal relationship where ostensive communication enhances cooperation is a plausible alternative.
• The development of technology may represent a foundational element in the evolution of human cognitive abilities, including communication and cooperation.