The Elephant in the Brain

Humans are animals; our behavior is shaped by deep-seated evolutionary drives, even when we pretend otherwise.

1. Hidden Selfishness Drives Animal and Human Behavior

Behavior in both animals and humans often appears altruistic but is rooted in self-interest. For instance, chimps engage in grooming not just for hygiene but to build alliances that aid survival. This behavior, termed social grooming, ensures mutual rewards and reflects political alliances.

Human acts, like helping a neighbor, may mimic this exchange but conceal deeper motives. We subtly expect reciprocation or goodwill in return. The complexity of human minds adds another layer: we sometimes hide these motives from even ourselves, believing in the purity of our actions.

Dunbar’s studies of primates and Robin Simler's observations on humans suggest we're governed by the same evolutionary wiring. Grooming, gossip, or conversation all become tools to serve personal benefits while nurturing community relationships.

Examples

• Chimps continuing grooming even when clean reflect political motives.
• Humans volunteering at events for networking opportunities.
• Parents enrolling kids in elite schools to both protect and enhance family status.

2. Our Brains Help Us Deceive, Even Ourselves

The human brain doesn't only deceive others; it often hides motivations from its owner. This self-deception helps us act convincingly, which, in turn, aids in duping others. For instance, someone seeking a promotion may appear selfless while subtly showcasing their competence.

Humans enjoy thinking their motives are noble, but evolutionary evidence highlights our cunning behavior. By keeping selfishness out of our own awareness, we communicate sincerity. This reduces confrontation and increases social acceptance.

The term "elephant in the brain" describes these unaddressed motives. Whether it’s coveting wealth, status, or relationships, we're skilled in masking intentions for personal gain while justifying actions as virtuous.

Examples

• A colleague positioning themselves as “team-oriented” while angling for a key leadership role.
• Charitable donations displayed publicly to gain social praise.
• Politicians justifying self-serving policies as public welfare initiatives.

3. Intelligence: A Product of Social Competition

Our intelligence isn’t solely about survival but about outsmarting fellow humans. Unlike the popular belief that challenging environments create brainpower, intragroup rivalries have been the catalyst for mental growth. To survive, we needed to navigate deception, alliances, and resource hoarding.

This concept, known as the social brain hypothesis, compares human evolution to forest trees. Just as trees grow taller to outcompete others for sunlight, human brains expanded to dominate adversaries socially and sexually. Thus, the primary purpose of human intelligence isn't problem-solving but status climbing.

Sexual selection plays a vital role here, driving artistic, mental, and physical displays that indicate strong genes. Much like a peacock flaunting its feathers, a human creating art or excelling intellectually is signaling genetic fitness to compete for mates.

Examples

• Musicians amassing followers partly to attract potential partners.
• Politicians successful not just due to skill but their ability to manipulate social dynamics.
• Artists rising to fame, securing admiration while showcasing mental prowess.

4. Social Norms Restrain Excessive Competition

Social norms act as unsaid rules that guide behavior. They serve to curb the aggressive instincts brought by competition while facilitating group co-functioning. For example, waiting in line at a post office represents cooperation suppressing primal drives for dominance.

However, maintaining norms requires enforcement. Gossip, a mechanism humans have refined, enforces behavioral standards subtly. When social norms are violated, communities collectively shame or shun offenders, ensuring adherence without confrontation.

Simler shares a case where office gossip led to the firing of an unsatisfactorily cooperative colleague. Community-enforced norms ensure stability, steering human behavior away from constant competitive chaos.

Examples

• Gossip leading to the marginalization of disruptive peers.
• Queue-jumpers facing disapproving stares in public spaces.
• Politicians facing backlash or resignations driven by scandals.

5. Body Language Tells Stories We Don’t Speak

Body language is an unconscious yet powerful tool of communication. While we're largely unaware of the signals our body sends, they reveal thoughts and influence others. A smile, crossed arms, or narrowed eyes can speak louder than words.

Body language complements verbal communication to convey trust, lack of confidence, or affection. It’s essential in navigating tricky social norms or hidden intentions. For instance, sexual attraction often begins with subtle gestures like prolonged eye contact or leaning in closer, long before words come into play.

Our lack of awareness about body language means we often judge others intuitively without realizing the cues we’re picking up or transmitting.

Examples

• A candidate’s body language during an interview revealing confidence.
• A couple flirting with smiles and proximity before verbal acknowledgment.
• Subconscious gestures like crossed arms signaling discomfort in social settings.

6. Conspicuous Consumption and Its Signals

Expensive products like luxury cars or jewelry serve an evolutionary purpose: signaling wealth and genetic advantage. Psychologist Thorstein Veblen called this "conspicuous consumption." Such purchases aren’t for practical use but to show that someone’s resources exceed their needs.

Beyond signaling wealth, these acquisitions convey personality traits to observers. For instance, someone opting for eco-friendly products in public settings showcases social values, even if such behavior isn’t consistent privately.

Research shows that under social observation, people prioritize sustainable choices, proving purchases often cater to appearance over practicality.

Examples

• A businessman choosing a Tesla instead of a gas-powered car to appear ecologically conscious.
• A Rolex advertised as “timeless” but primarily sought for status.
• Fashion influencers buying designer bags to showcase trendsetting personalities.

7. Art: A Surplus Indicator for Growth

Human evolution has prioritized art despite its lack of survival benefits. Music, painting, and dance aren’t pragmatically essential yet showcase skill, creativity, and surplus resources—qualities attractive for reproduction. Anthropologist Geoffrey Miller argues that artistic pursuits are deeply tied to sexual selection.

Art mirrors the behavior of animals like bowerbirds that craft complex nests to attract mates. These structures serve no purpose beyond indicating that the male bird can spare the effort for creativity, proving resource abundance.

For humans, art becomes a signal of intelligence, creativity, and an ability to thrive socially, making those who pursue it more desirable mates.

Examples

• Cave paintings evidencing early human creativity as a competitive edge.
• Songwriters using emotional lyrics to attract admiration from peers.
• Painters gaining romantic partners through their perceived uniqueness and skill.

8. Gossip as a Survival Tool

Gossip, often dismissed as mischief, is actually a vital survival tool. It shares information about reputations, contributing to collective group decision-making. Humans use gossip to enforce norms, ostracize competitors, and elevate allies.

A scenario shared by Simler underscored its power: an office bully was ousted not through direct confrontation but by collective whispers, ensuring group harmony. Such systems reward cooperative behavior without excessive social discord.

By quickly spreading trust-related information, gossip establishes a foundation for decision-making and collaborative survival.

Examples

• Rural communities relying on gossip to assess newcomers' policies.
• Reality TV shows sustaining drama using gossip dynamics.
• Workplaces forming alliances based on shared "off-the-record" details.

9. Self-Deception Enhances Social Success

Sometimes, believing our false narrative makes it easier to convince others. Self-deception aids confidence and allows smooth manipulation without guilt tripping. A student acing exams might convince themselves they “enjoy studying,” though it’s likely for accolades.

Deep-rooted evolutionary behaviors persist, manifesting in our tendency to believe kindly about ourselves. This helps blur the line between authentic passion and hidden agendas, influencing how we behave and how others perceive us.

Self-deception thus serves as a self-preservative social quirk tied directly to animal strategies.

Examples

• Actors convincing themselves of authenticity for maximum role immersion.
• Team members justifying late hours as “dedication” instead of competition.
• Salespeople firmly believing in their pitch to close deals.

Takeaways

1. Observe your hidden motives. Create moments for self-reflection to identify reasons behind your decisions and adjust behaviors when needed.
2. Enhance body language awareness. Spend time analyzing nonverbal cues to improve communication, especially in professional or romantic settings.
3. Understand consumer/mate attraction signals. Before any purchase or display, ask yourself: "What am I signaling, and why?"