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A general model for the adaptive function of self-knowledge in animals and humans
1Anthropology Department, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California, USA. Parker@Sonoma.edu
Consciousness and Cognition
|March 1, 1997
Summary
This study defines self-knowledge across species, proposing an evolutionary scale of its development. Self-knowledge aids in assessing others for survival and reproductive strategies.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Cognitive Science
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Self-knowledge is a complex trait observed across species.
- Understanding its evolutionary trajectory and functional significance is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a general definition and evolutionary scale of self-knowledge.
- To hypothesize the functional and adaptive significance of self-knowledge.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis and synthesis of existing research.
- Development of an evolutionary model for self-knowledge.
- Hypothesis testing based on comparative data.
Main Results:
- Self-knowledge forms an ordinal scale across evolutionary lineages.
- Self-knowledge develops sequentially in line with evolutionary history.
- An assessment model of self-knowledge is proposed.
Conclusions:
- Self-knowledge is fundamental for social selection and decision-making.
- It enables assessment of conspecifics for reproductive and subsistence strategies.
- This model integrates evolutionary biology with cognitive mechanisms.
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