The Social Intelligence Hypothesis (book)

The Social Intelligence Hypothesis suggests that humans developed advanced thinking and problem-solving abilities primarily to navigate complex social relationships. As our ancestors lived and worked within intricate social groups, mastering social skills—like understanding others’ intentions, cooperating, and managing conflicts—became crucial. This constant social interaction drove the evolution of our brains, leading to higher intelligence. In short, our mental abilities grew not just for individual survival, but mainly to thrive within social communities, shaping the sophisticated social skills and cognition we have today.