Social exclusion: more important to human females than males.
Theoretical models based on primate evidence suggest that social structure determines the costs and benefits of particular aggressive strategies. In humans, males more than females interact in groups of unrelated same-sex peers, and larger group size predicts success in inter-group contests. In mark...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2013-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3566112?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1811236546647425024 |
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| author | Joyce F Benenson Henry Markovits Brittney Hultgren Tuyet Nguyen Grace Bullock Richard Wrangham |
| author_facet | Joyce F Benenson Henry Markovits Brittney Hultgren Tuyet Nguyen Grace Bullock Richard Wrangham |
| author_sort | Joyce F Benenson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Theoretical models based on primate evidence suggest that social structure determines the costs and benefits of particular aggressive strategies. In humans, males more than females interact in groups of unrelated same-sex peers, and larger group size predicts success in inter-group contests. In marked contrast, human females form isolated one-on-one relationships with fewer instrumental benefits, so social exclusion constitutes a more useful strategy. If this model is accurate, then human social exclusion should be utilized by females more than males and females should be more sensitive to its occurrence. Here we present four studies supporting this model. In Study 1, using a computerized game with fictitious opponents, we demonstrate that females are more willing than males to socially exclude a temporary ally. In Study 2, females report more actual incidents of social exclusion than males do. In Study 3, females perceive cues revealing social exclusion more rapidly than males do. Finally, in Study 4, females' heart rate increases more than males' in response to social exclusion. Together, results indicate that social exclusion is a strategy well-tailored to human females' social structure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:10:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-558ad66802154d3aac917c12a03145dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:10:03Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-558ad66802154d3aac917c12a03145dc2022-12-22T03:33:36ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0182e5585110.1371/journal.pone.0055851Social exclusion: more important to human females than males.Joyce F BenensonHenry MarkovitsBrittney HultgrenTuyet NguyenGrace BullockRichard WranghamTheoretical models based on primate evidence suggest that social structure determines the costs and benefits of particular aggressive strategies. In humans, males more than females interact in groups of unrelated same-sex peers, and larger group size predicts success in inter-group contests. In marked contrast, human females form isolated one-on-one relationships with fewer instrumental benefits, so social exclusion constitutes a more useful strategy. If this model is accurate, then human social exclusion should be utilized by females more than males and females should be more sensitive to its occurrence. Here we present four studies supporting this model. In Study 1, using a computerized game with fictitious opponents, we demonstrate that females are more willing than males to socially exclude a temporary ally. In Study 2, females report more actual incidents of social exclusion than males do. In Study 3, females perceive cues revealing social exclusion more rapidly than males do. Finally, in Study 4, females' heart rate increases more than males' in response to social exclusion. Together, results indicate that social exclusion is a strategy well-tailored to human females' social structure.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3566112?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Joyce F Benenson Henry Markovits Brittney Hultgren Tuyet Nguyen Grace Bullock Richard Wrangham Social exclusion: more important to human females than males. PLoS ONE |
| title | Social exclusion: more important to human females than males. |
| title_full | Social exclusion: more important to human females than males. |
| title_fullStr | Social exclusion: more important to human females than males. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social exclusion: more important to human females than males. |
| title_short | Social exclusion: more important to human females than males. |
| title_sort | social exclusion more important to human females than males |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3566112?pdf=render |
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