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Relação entre rede social, Inteligência geral, inteligência social e hormonas em humanos
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Abstract(s)
Segundo a Hipótese da Inteligência Maquiaveliana, o principal motor evolutivo
responsável pelo desenvolvimento das capacidades cognitivas que muitas espécies
exibem terá sido a exigência que o processamento de uma rede social numerosa e
complexa pede. Um factor importante para o estabelecimento de relações sociais
humanas é a Teoria da Mente, que é definida como a capacidade de inferir sobre os
estados mentais dos outros. Existem também numerosas evidências relativas à
influência de várias hormonas no comportamento social. De forma a investigar quais as
variáveis cognitivas e fisiológicas relacionadas com o tamanho e complexidade da rede social em humanos, foram recolhidos dados sobre Inteligência Geral (medida através de “Matrizes Progressivas Avançadas de Raven”), Teoria da Mente (através de” Reading
the Eyes in the Mind Test”, cuja versão portuguesa foi também aqui validada, num N =
130), rede social (através de “Social Network Index”), testosterona e cortisol. Não
foram encontradas relações da rede social e hormonas com nenhuma das restantes
variáveis em estudo. Foi, contudo, observada uma associação entre Inteligência Geral e
Teoria da Mente, em mulheres (N = 70), confirmada através de comparação entre os
grupos com melhores e piores prestações no Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, e
modelos lineares de regressões múltiplas. Este resultado sugere que alguns dos recursos
cognitivos subjacentes ao processamento de estímulos sociais e não-sociais possam ser
partilhados, mostrando assim novas evidências que suportam a Hipótese da Inteligência
Maquiaveliana.
ABSTRACT: According to the Machiavellian Intelligence Hypothesis, the main evolutionary drive responsible for the development of numerous species’ cognitive abilities was the demanding processing power required for maintaining a complex and large social network. A key factor in the establishment of human social relationships is the Theory of Mind, defined as the process by which we attribute mental states to others, different from our own. Besides this, a substantial amount of evidence exists on the influence hormones play on social behavior. In order to further investigate the cognitive and physiological variables related to the size and complexity of human social networks, data was gathered regarding General Intelligence (by means of Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices), Theory of Mind (using a Portuguese version of the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test”, validated here as well, in 130 participants), social network (via the “Social Network Index”), testosterone and cortisol. Social network and hormones were not found to be related with any of the remaining variables. We did, however, find an association between General Intelligence and Theory of Mind, in women (N = 70), either by comparing the groups with the best and worst Eyes Test scores, or by multiple linear regression analysis. This result suggests that some of the cognitive resources underlying social and non-social stimuli processing may be the same, thus supporting the Machiavellian Intelligence Hypothesis.
ABSTRACT: According to the Machiavellian Intelligence Hypothesis, the main evolutionary drive responsible for the development of numerous species’ cognitive abilities was the demanding processing power required for maintaining a complex and large social network. A key factor in the establishment of human social relationships is the Theory of Mind, defined as the process by which we attribute mental states to others, different from our own. Besides this, a substantial amount of evidence exists on the influence hormones play on social behavior. In order to further investigate the cognitive and physiological variables related to the size and complexity of human social networks, data was gathered regarding General Intelligence (by means of Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices), Theory of Mind (using a Portuguese version of the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test”, validated here as well, in 130 participants), social network (via the “Social Network Index”), testosterone and cortisol. Social network and hormones were not found to be related with any of the remaining variables. We did, however, find an association between General Intelligence and Theory of Mind, in women (N = 70), either by comparing the groups with the best and worst Eyes Test scores, or by multiple linear regression analysis. This result suggests that some of the cognitive resources underlying social and non-social stimuli processing may be the same, thus supporting the Machiavellian Intelligence Hypothesis.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado em Psicobiologia, apresentada ao ISPA - Instituto Universitário
Keywords
Inteligência social Inteligência geral Teoria da mente Rede social Hormonas Social intelligence General intelligence Theory of mind Social network Hormones