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Humans are ultrasocial and emotional

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2016

Lisa A. Williams
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. lwilliams@unsw.edu.auwww.williamssocialemotionslab.com
Eliza Bliss-Moreau
Affiliation:
California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616. eblissmoreau@ucdavis.eduwww.elizablissmoreau.com

Abstract

Given the highly social nature of the human emotion system, it is likely that it subserved the evolution of ultrasociality. We review how the experience and functions of human emotions enable social processes that promote ultrasociality (e.g., cooperation). We also point out that emotion may represent one route to redress one of the negative consequences of ultrasociality: ecosystem domination.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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