Is consensus-seeking unique to humans? A selective review of animal group decision-making and its implications for (human) social psychology

Abstract

Recent research on animal behavior suggests that group decision-making may not be uniquely human. Based on Tinbergen’s (1963) “four questions,” this paper proposes that linking biological- and social-science approaches is important to a better understanding of human group decisions. Toward this end, we first review some recent findings on collective behavior by social insects (ants and honeybees in particular). We then argue that several fundamental processes (e.g., positive feedback, nonlinear responses to social frequency information, and use of quorums) commonly underlie human and non-human group decision-making under uncertainty, while key prerequisites for the emergence of collective intelligence may be more vulnerable to social nuances in human contexts. We sketch some future research directions to promote cross-fertilizations between the two fields.