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ComPILAR represents fifteen years of research, and combines numerous theories from different branches of psychology, including various theories from social psychology and specialised areas such as positive psychology. However, the most important background is evolutionary psychology, as it sets out why ComPILAR might exist at the genetic level.
Group Level Selection (GLS) and Cultural Group Selection (CGS)
GLS claims that over millions of years of hominin development, genes within each tribe succeeded or failed as the tribe grew or collapsed. This differs from the usual individual selection proposed by evolutionary biologists. GLS however was discredited with the advent of modern genealogy which showed the speed of adaptation (e.g. growth in brain size) was too fast to be explained by GLS due to the infrequency of contact between tribes. Thus beneficial mutations would not spread quickly enough to become persistent across entire species (and may be lost to unfortunate events, such as inclement weather).
A remedy to this issue is Cultural Group Selection (CGS), whereby culture accelerates choice of certain traits within all tribes. The problem with this mechanism is it doesn’t become sufficiently strong until language arises, which allows for reputation (see the blog post) to enforce adherence to cultural norms. In other words, if one cannot gossip about other members of the tribe, only body language can communicate another’s poor (or good) behaviour to others. And as we all know, people can like or dislike each other for many reasons.
ComPILAR overcomes these two issues by relying on the concept of sub-Group Level Selection (sGLS), based on the idea that any tribe consists of multiple smaller groups, which people belonged to first and the tribe second. These sub-groups are imagined to be collections of (say) 5-15 males and females, with sexual and platonic connections of varying kinds. And the tribe being usually 30-100 individuals to allow for strength in defence, but otherwise the sub-groups forage, hunt and sleep separately. Thus ComPILAR works at the sub-group level, where today we mirror the psychological conditions of our hominin ancestors in the groups to which we belong.
Sub-group Level Selection and Migration
One reason that sGLS might accelerate evolution is that sub-groups would compete for access to two most valuable commodities, fertile females and strong males. Attracting superior females to your sub-group would provide access to sex, and the superior males better food and defence; against both predators and other sub-groups. So a sub-group with a more effective culture would attract more members in the short term, and in the medium term, be more fecund (have babies). In the longer term, those babies are more likely to survive, and due to epigenetics, become adherents of that sub-group’s culture.
In other words, sGLS represents a cauldron of experimentation where different approaches to sub-group culture are in direct competition for members, and growing new members through reproduction. This high level of interaction overcomes the problem with GLS.
Sub-group Level Selection and Culture
The other reason why sGLS might be the secret to hominin success is that smaller groups can create their own (pre-language) ‘culture’ via recognised behaviours allowing members, via close observation, to monitor each other’s emotional state, and thus predict their likely behaviour.
Each of the Pillars is considered to be observable to those who know you very well, and have opportunity for regular and extended observation. Since these sub-groups would be around one another 24/7, the members would be in synch. The dense array of Forces increases behavioural predictability since they remain within (‘in house to’) the Pillars, and don’t affect some other driver that becomes a source of uncertainty. Similar to how the advent of crypto created a whole new asset class, which created uncertainty within the economy.
For sub-group members to combine their forces reliably, they need to be predictable to one another. While it might seem advantageous to be able to hide one’s emotional state, such a member would not be tolerated by the rest of the sub-group. Like a green soldier in an elite special forces team, prone to act outside of trained responses, they are a danger to all.
ComPILAR and Two Cultures
You may have guessed that ComPILAR proposes two basic ‘cultures’ or psychological behavioural suites (models) – egalitarian and hierarchical. The latter has its origins in chimpanzees, which represents a somewhat close copy of the Last Common Ancestor to all hominin lineages – including us.
The egalitarian model is considered to have adapted directly from hierarchical, where each Pillar is an ‘improvement’ on its hierarchical version. Improvement meaning the egalitarian model helps the sub-group to succeed, except when in actual danger. The average hominin on the savannah was only in danger a small minority of the time. While its important to be able to switch back to hierarchical temporarily when danger arises, this is reversible. While on the other hand, its much harder to switch to egalitarian temporarily.
Summary
In summary, ComPILAR represents an explanation for modern humans, and indeed all hominins (and there were many), being our brain, and ability to cooperate. No other theory explains why other primate species failed to develop intelligence and prosociality. Even while some do exist in sub-groups of varying cultures (some hierarchical, some egalitarian). The problem is that their egalitarian sub-groups are situational, due to younger males and no females. Once a female enters, dominance behaviours begin.
By contrast with all other primates, hominins developed methods at the genetic level to maintain cooperation even when males would otherwise compete over fertile females. ComPILAR’s egalitarian model represents psychological urges that allow males and females to co-exist peacefully and effectively.