Modelling the Social Buffering Hypothesis in an Artificial Life Environment

TitleModelling the Social Buffering Hypothesis in an Artificial Life Environment
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsKhan, I, Lewis, M, Cañamero, L
EditorBongard, J, Lovato, J, Hebert-Dufrésne, L, Dasari, R, Soros, L
Name of ProceedingsProceedings of the Artificial Life Conference 2020 (ALIFE 2020)
Pagination393–401
Date Published07/2020
PublisherMIT Press
Conference LocationMontreal, Canada
Abstract

In social species, individuals who form social bonds have been found to live longer, healthier lives. One hypothesised reason for this effect is that social support, mediated by oxytocin, "buffers" responses to stress in a number of ways, and is considered an important process of adaptation that facilitates long-term wellbeing in changing, stressful conditions. Using an artificial life model, we have investigated the role of one hypothesised stress-reducing effect of social support on the survival and social interactions of agents in a small society. We have investigated this effect using different types of social bonds and bond partner combinations across environmentally-challenging conditions. Our results have found that stress reduction through social support benefits the survival of agents with social bonds, and that this effect often extends to the wider society. We have also found that this effect is significantly affected by environmental and social contexts. Our findings suggest that these "social buffering" effects may not be universal, but dependent upon the degree of environmental challenges, the quality of affective relationships and the wider social context.

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URLhttps://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/isal_a_00302
DOI10.1162/isal_a_00302