Remembering Cheaters

doi:10.1017/9781108768450.028

24 - Remembering Cheaters

The Influence of Social Relevance on Source Memory

from Part II - Evolution of Memory Processes

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 May 2022

Edited by

Karen L. Hollis and

Mark A. Krause: Affiliation:
Southern Oregon University
Karen L. Hollis: Affiliation:
Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts
Mauricio R. Papini: Affiliation:
Texas Christian University

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Summary

A popular assumption in evolutionary psychology claims that reciprocal altruism is supported by a cognitive module that helps individuals to detect and remember cheaters. Enhanced memory for cheaters would be suited to avoid social exchange situations in which we run the risk of getting exploited by others. In line with this idea, previous studies found a source memory advantage for faces of cheaters relative to faces of cooperators. However, such findings should not be interpreted uncritically. This effect can also be explained with more general cognitive mechanisms. A general preference to attend to and remember negative and unexpected information may ensure that our limited processing resources are focused on relevant information. Therefore, enhanced source memory should be found for a variety of situations, proving to be more adaptive than a mechanism exclusively focused on cheating.

Keywords

cheater avoidance source memory social exchange evolution learning adaptive memory social expectancies

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Evolution of Learning and Memory Mechanisms , pp. 424 - 437

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108768450.028 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2022

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