The Social Intelligence Hypothesis

The Social Intelligence Hypothesis suggests that human intelligence evolved primarily to help us navigate complex social environments. Unlike other species, humans need to understand relationships, communicate effectively, and cooperate with others to thrive. This theory posits that our cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving and planning, developed not just for survival or tool use but largely for managing social interactions, forming alliances, and living in groups. Thus, our brains have expanded to handle the demands of social living, making social intelligence a key driver of overall human intelligence.