Are We Genetical Maladapted for E-Collaboration?

Abstract

Do we have e-collaboration genes, that is, genes that code for biological adaptations that are well aligned with the demands posed by e-collaboration? A look at our ancestral past through an evolutionary psychology lens generally suggests a negative answer to this question. It seems that our biological communication apparatus, which includes several brain modules, is in fact designed to excel in co-located communication involving face-to-face interaction. Our biological apparatus appears to be ill adapted for e-collaboration, especially in situations where text-intensive and asynchronous interaction technologies (e.g., e-mail) are used for communication. Implications for research and practice of these conclusions are discussed, particularly as they refer to the explanatory and predictive power of the conclusions.