Optimal investment in social signals

Abstract

This study is an attempt to determine how much individuals should invest in social communication, depending on the type of relationships they may form. Two simple models of social relationships are considered. In both models, individuals emit costly signals to advertise their "quality" as potential friends. Relationships are asymmetrical or symmetrical. In the asymmetrical condition (first model), we observe that low-quality individuals are discouraged from signaling. In the symmetrical condition (second model), all individuals invest in communication. In both models, high-quality individuals (elite) do not compete and signal uniformly. The level of this uniform signal and the size of the "elite" turn out to be controlled by the accuracy of signals. The two models may be relevant to several aspects of animal and human social communication.

Keywords: Friendship; honest communication; signaling; social behavior; social selection.