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Tolerance as a key mechanism for large-scale social cohesion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 November 2025

Wen Zhou Open the ORCID record for Wen Zhou [Opens in a new window] ,
Bin Yin Open the ORCID record for Bin Yin [Opens in a new window] ,
Yanjie Su Open the ORCID record for Yanjie Su [Opens in a new window]  and
Brian Hare
Wen Zhou*
Affiliation:
Division of Social Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China wen.zhou@duke.edu Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
Bin Yin
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China luckbin@163.com
Yanjie Su
Affiliation:
School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China yjsu@pku.edu.cn
Brian Hare
Affiliation:
Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA b.hare@duke.edu
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Grooming and cognition support primate group cohesion but are insufficient for maintaining stability in large groups. We propose tolerance, the capacity to accommodate social stress, as an additional mechanism. Tolerance fosters flexible social skills and cooperation beyond small cliques. Shaped by hormonal adaptation and development, tolerance plays a foundational role in overcoming group size limits by sustaining complex social networks.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 48 , 2025 , e189
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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