1.  The Evolution of Social Structure: Why Biology Matters. Pierce, B. & White, R. (1999). The evolution of social structure: why biology matters. Academy of Management Review, 24, 843-853.

2. Video  video clip video clip

3. Introduction  Human behavior, including social behavior, is a result of the interplay between perceived environmental cues and innate psychological mechanisms  Our evolutionary ancestors have been members of social groups for millions of years  Psychological mechanisms that helped our ancestors solve survival problems have become encoded genetically  These innate mechanisms continue to influence our social behavior today

4.  These does not mean that our behavior is predetermined  Rather human behavior is very flexible because these innate mechanisms are domain specific—tailored to solve specific problems and activated only when certain cues are perceived

5. Social Structure  Agonic Mode  Stable troops of dominant and submissive members that travel together  Those who attain and maintain dominance do so through obvert acts and displays of aggression  Members of the group keep their attention on the dominants  When danger threatens, members look to dominant for protection

6. Social Structure  Hedonic Mode  Behavior is much more flexible  Members split into small foraging groups  Rank is not rigid  When danger threatens, members group together for protection

7.  Why would there be two distinct social structures within the same species?  Type of structure is dependent upon resource context  There are four characteristics of resource context that are constantly linked to social behavior

8. Resource Context  Distribution  When resources are clumped together, animals tend to be more aggressive  Visibility  High visibility (savannas) encourages competitive behavior  Low visibility allows animals to forage without worrying about competitors

9. Resource Context  Predictability  When resources are highly predictable, animals forage in large groups and behave in an agonic manner  When resources are less predictable, animals scatter into small groups or even forage alone  Timing  When animals do not wait to consume their resources, they are more aggressive  When they delay their consumption, they show less competitive behavior

10. Parallels in Human Behavior  Mechanistic Human Organizations  Hierarchical  Importance of control, authority, and rank  Similar to the agonic mode  Organic Systems  Stratified, but nonhierarchical  Authority flows depending on task at hand  Similar to hedonic mode

11. Implications  Even though we no longer live on the savanna, our innate mechanisms may influence us to behave as though we do  Employers have the ability to produce a certain type of working atmosphere is they utilize one of these modes  We are social beings, always have been and always will be

12. Limitations of Article  Even though the authors made a connection between the social structures of our evolutionary ancestors and the work place today, it could have been more defined.  Relied too much on outside research.  It could have incorporated more studies concerning human social structure today.

13. 3 Interesting Findings  “Our ancestors have been members of social groups and engaged in social interaction for millions and probably tens of millions of years.”  Despite the variability of the resource context, it is apparent that our ancestors grouped together in some fashion. This displays the very important survival function of a group.  Even in the complex world of today, where the resource context is much different from that of our ancestors, humans undoubtedly form groups in order to better their lives.  According to Harvard professor Robert Putnam, social isolation may be as big of a risk factor for death as smoking— it may even be bigger.

14. Test Questions  Which is NOT a characteristic of resource context?  Timing  Visibility  Amount  Having innate psychological mechanisms means that  Humans have no free will  Humans act like monkeys  Humans are influenced by their evolutionary ancestors  If an employer wanted to promote a free-flowing, nonhierarchical working environment, he should try to simulate a _______ atmosphere  Organic  Mechanistic

15. True/False  Evolved psychological mechanisms are domain specific.  Our evolutionary ancestors were not social beings.  More than one type of social structure can be found in a single species.