reviewScienceJul 22, 2004Closed access

Public Information: From Nosy Neighbors to Cultural Evolution

ÉDÉtienne DanchinLGLuc‐Alain GiraldeauTJThomas J. ValoneRWRichard Wagner

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Austrian Academy of Sciences · +4 more institutions

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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.

Citation impact

1,504
total citations
FWCI
148.72
Percentile
100%
References
58
Citations per year

Authors

4

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Affect (linguistics)
  • Quality (philosophy)
  • Public information
  • Psychology
  • Cognitive psychology
  • Internet privacy
  • Computer science
  • Communication
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Peace, Justice and strong institutions
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