Abstract

Social creatures align with each other spontaneously. They move together and learn together without needing a director to tell them what to do. Alignment occurs at many different levels. At the physical level the direction and synchrony of movement is copied as observed in flocks of birds or shoals of fish. At the goal level, alignment goes beyond copying to allow for complementary movements, a critical aspect of successful joint action. In humans only, there is a higher level still in the form of mental alignment. This has a critical role in communication and joint decision-making. A desirable consequence of alignment with others is an increase in affiliation and liking, which creates opportunities for altruism. Problems can arise from choosing the wrong level of alignment. Such problems are monitored and can often be solved by metacognitive processes.

About the speaker

Uta Frith, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development, UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience