The Infinite Monkey Cage Monkey Business - Robin Dunbar, Dave Gorman and Jo Setchell
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Dec 17, 2025 
Join evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar, who introduces the fascinating concept of Dunbar's number, and anthropologist Jo Setchell, who discusses the colorful mating rituals of mandrills. Comedian Dave Gorman adds humor as they delve into why some primates have lasting bonds, while others are more fleeting. Discover how scent and grooming are vital for maintaining social groups and learn about the unexpected pleasures of primate sexuality. It's a wild ride through the social lives of our furry relatives!
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Brain Size Predicts Social Network Limits
- Robin Dunbar links social network size to brain size, giving humans an average meaningful network of about 150 people.
- Those networks have nested layers (5, 15, 50, 150) that reflect intimacy and information flow efficiency.
Why Groups Hit Cognitive Glass Ceilings
- Group size faces 'line dancing' and synchrony limits that constrain how many individuals can coordinate without extra cognition.
- Grooming and intensive social bonds let primates scale beyond ~15 and ~30 by creating tighter subgroups.
Colour Signals Rank; Scent Signals Genes
- Jo Setchell found mandrill colour indicates rank and testosterone but females actually prefer genetic immune compatibility.
- Primates often assess immune genes via scent and choose mates to improve offspring immunity.