Effort shapes social cognition and behaviour: A neuro-cognitive framework

Luis Sebastian Contreras-Huerta, M. Andrea Pisauro, Matthew A.J. Apps

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Theoretical accounts typically posit that variability in social behaviour is a function of capacity limits. We argue that many social behaviours are goal-directed and effortful, and thus variability is not just a function of capacity, but also motivation. Leveraging recent work examining the cognitive, computational and neural basis of effort processing, we put forward a framework for motivated social cognition. We argue that social cognition is demanding, people avoid its effort costs, and a core-circuit of brain areas that guides effort-based decisions in non-social situations may similarly evaluate whether social behaviours are worth the effort. Thus, effort sensitivity dissociates capacity limits from social motivation, and may be a driver of individual differences and pathological impairments in social cognition.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)426-439
Number of pages14
JournalNeuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
Volume118
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Effort
  • Empathy
  • Motivation
  • Prosocial behaviour
  • Social cognition
  • Theory of mind

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