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Human Cognition and Social Behavior

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Information Behavior

Part of the book series: Information Science and Knowledge Management ((ISKM,volume 16))

Abstract

Alexander’s words set the scene for exploring more about the broad nature and attributes of information behavior. In previous chapters we explored how Information behavior emerged in early humans as an evolved cognitive mechanism with instinctive and environmental dimensions underpinned by a motivation to control motivation to control the environment. We now focus more closely on the human cognitive and social level in Fig. 2.2 that highlights Information behavior as a complex phenomenon with many broad attributes and dimensions that we are only just beginning to understand.

Humans had in some unique fashion become so ecologically dominant that they in effect became their own principal hostile force of nature, explicitly in regard to evolutionary changes in human psyche and social behavior.

(Alexander, 1990b, p. 4).

Combining the cooperation -to-compete hypothesis with the notion of the brain as a social tool allows us to pursue more effectively the understanding of both unique and unusual human traits.

(Alexander, 1990b, p. 12)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Science, Loughborough University, Ashby Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK

    Amanda Spink (Professor, Chair in Information Science)

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  1. Amanda Spink
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Correspondence to Amanda Spink .

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Spink, A. (2010). Human Cognition and Social Behavior. In: Information Behavior. Information Science and Knowledge Management, vol 16. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11497-7_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11497-7_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-11496-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-11497-7

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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