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Peacocks, Penknives and Power

On the Implications of Evolutionary Psychology for Strategic Communication

Bibliographic Data

ID12800577
AuthorsHoward Nothhaft (0000-0003-4576-6205, Lund University, corresponding author), Jens Seiffert‐Brockmann (0000-0002-7121-3252, Vienna University of Economics and Business)
Year2023
Volume17
Issue3
Pages163-180
Publication date2023-05-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Strategic Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1553-118X • E-ISSN: 1553-1198
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/1553118x.2023.2197441
OpenAlexW4387679007
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited38

This article conceptualizes evolutionary theory as a bridge between existing theorizing in strategic communication on the one hand, the mind sciences on the other. It discusses six core concepts of evolutionary psychology that have a bearing on strategic communication theory: a) the human as a highly flexible social species; b) the regulation of individually-minded vs. collectively-minded behavior; c) advanced, symbolic communication as a mode of regulation and its second-order problems; d) a consilient conceptualization of communication; e) evolutionary psychology’s role as a heuristic; and f) the limits of cognitive capacity and the role of heuristic shortcuts. The article concludes with a note on the theory of science in strategic communication research and cautions against the common misunderstanding of evolutionary psychology’s agenda

Biology · Bridge (graph theory · Cognitive science · Communication theory · Conceptualization · Economics · Epistemology · Evolutionary psychology · Heuristic · Order (exchange · Political science · Power (physics · Public relations · Sociology · Strategic Communication · Communication · Computer Science · Cultural Differences and Values · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology · Artificial Intelligence

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Unique citing works5
Citations per year1,67
Citation span2023 - 2026 (4)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 5
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