How to Gain Authority in a Group: Experiment Findings
Respect in a group depends not only on intelligence but also on the benefits a person brings to others. Norwegian psychologists tested this principle and discovered how solving common tasks influences social status.
Intelligence is often linked to advantages in social life: people with high cognitive abilities can better tackle difficult tasks and may claim leadership positions. However, it remains unclear how exactly intelligence helps gain recognition.
Researchers from the University of Agder and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology explored the coalition intelligence hypothesis. According to this, cognitive abilities enhance social status primarily because they allow individuals to benefit the group. The results were published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior.
175 students participated in the experiment. Initially, they completed the ICAR-16 test, assessing various aspects of cognitive abilities. Then, participants were paired and asked to solve the task of “Food Gathering for Winter.” They needed to determine how many hours members of a hypothetical tribe should spend gathering food, considering fatigue.
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Students had to find the optimal time distribution. They were given five minutes to solve the task, and discussing it with their partner was not allowed. Afterward, participants evaluated each other based on three criteria: respect, leadership qualities, and value to the group.
Researchers compared the results of the intelligence test, task-solving effectiveness, and recognition received from peers. It turned out that participants with higher cognitive test scores generally performed better in finding optimal solutions for the group. The connection between these indicators was statistically significant.
Those who proposed more effective strategies received higher social status ratings. A direct link between cognitive test results and social status was weak, but a significant indirect connection remained through the quality of task solutions. In other words, higher cognitive abilities led to recognition to the extent that they helped benefit the entire group.
Psychologists also examined whether people could assess each other's intelligence through brief interactions. It was found that after a short acquaintance, a person could somewhat evaluate the cognitive abilities of their interlocutor.
These results support the coalition intelligence hypothesis: throughout evolution, cognitive abilities helped people not only solve individual tasks but also coordinate joint activities. Those who offered beneficial solutions could gain respect and a higher status in return.
Since the experiment was observational, the hypothesis can be tested in the future with more diverse samples.
