Ownership psychology as a "cognitive cell" adaptation: A minimalist model of microbial goods theory

Behav Brain Sci. 2023 Oct 10:46:e330. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X23001498.

Abstract

Microbes perfect social interactions with intuitive logics and goal-directed reciprocity. These multilevel, cognition-resembling adaptations in Dictyostelid cellular molds enable individual-to-group viability through public/private bacterial farming and dynamic marketspaces. Like humans and animals, Dictyostelid livestock-ownership depends on environmental sensing, cooperation, and competition. Moreover, social-norm policing of cosmopolitan colonies coordinates farmer decisions, phenotypes, and ownership identities with bacteria herding, privatization, and consumption.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cognition
  • Humans
  • Ownership*
  • Privatization*