Did Friendship Help Our Ancestors Evolve?

Most people realise how selfishness and competition drive evolution . But if that ’s the case , why do we make friend at all ? This video essay from New Scientist ’s MacGregor Campbell offers a speedy and informatory answer to that query .

First of all , humans are n’t the only animals that mould friendships , so scientists have been capable to meditate how friendship work in a variety of creature from elephant to dolphins . What all these puppet share is a social system of intimate connection that have helped them survive as a species . creature that take shape friendly relationship bonds are capable to get more food , and rear their untested more safely . That means healthier babies — and more adults .

One of the interesting topics that MacGregor tackles in this video is the correlational statistics between animal intelligence operation and friendly relationship shaping . Certainly not all thinking animals are social — octopus are unrelentingly solitary , and there is plenty of evidence that they are shivery - impudent . But primates , mahimahi , and other friend - Almighty do seem to need a lot of mental processing power to keep runway of friendship , as well as their friends kinship with each other .