Learning from in-group and out-group models induces separative effects on human mate copying

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Evolutionary Psychology

Background:

• Mate copying is a social learning strategy where individuals observe others' mating choices.
• Previous research focused on individual model attributes, neglecting the influence of group affiliation.
• Understanding how group membership (in-group vs. out-group) affects mate copying is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether and how group attributes of models influence mate copying behavior.
• To examine the neural mechanisms underlying mate copying from in-group versus out-group models.
• To explore the role of the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) and anterior medial prefrontal cortex (amPFC) in social learning of mate preferences.

Main Methods:

• Behavioral experiments assessing willingness to choose potential mates before and after observing female models' choices.
• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity and connectivity during mate copying tasks.
• Comparison of responses to in-group versus out-group models and acceptance versus rejection copying scenarios.

Main Results:

• Participants' mate preferences shifted to align with observed models' choices (acceptance or rejection).
• Acceptance copying was stronger than rejection copying and modulated by model group affiliation.
• Observing out-group models led to a discounting copying effect, with increased TPJ activity and TPJ-amPFC connectivity, predicting greater rating changes.

Conclusions:

• Mate copying is influenced by the social group affiliation of the observed models.
• Acceptance copying from out-group members requires greater cognitive resources to overcome in-group bias.
• TPJ and amPFC engagement suggests a role in inferring intentions and managing social information from dissimilar individuals.