Public Information: From Nosy Neighbors to Cultural Evolution
Top Cited Papers
- 23 July 2004
- journal article
- review article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 305 (5683) , 487-491
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1098254
Abstract
Psychologists, economists, and advertising moguls have long known that human decision-making is strongly influenced by the behavior of others. A rapidly accumulating body of evidence suggests that the same is true in animals. Individuals can use information arising from cues inadvertently produced by the behavior of other individuals with similar requirements. Many of these cues provide public information about the quality of alternatives. The use of public information is taxonomically widespread and can enhance fitness. Public information can lead to cultural evolution, which we suggest may then affect biological evolution.Keywords
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