# Tactical Deception **Domain:** Primatology / Cognition **Doc Type:** Concept Node **Maturity:** Developed ## Definition Tactical deception is the flexible concealment or manipulation of information to alter another individual's behavior in a specific social situation. ## Mechanism An individual may hide food, suppress a signal, redirect attention, or behave differently in the presence of a dominant rival. The tactic depends on sensitivity to what others can perceive and how they are likely to respond. ## Significance In primatology, tactical deception is evidence of sophisticated social adaptation without by itself resolving stronger claims about theory of mind. ## Relationships - [[wiki/Primate Politics|Primate Politics]] - [[wiki/Behavioral Signal|Behavioral Signal]] - [[wiki/Information Asymmetry|Information Asymmetry]] ## Simple Reminders, Quotations, and Thoughts > “Primatologists note that many primates use subtle deception and concealment as normal social tools, such as hiding a food discovery from a dominant rival. Researchers call this tactical deception, and it reflects intelligence. Human strategic concealment has deep evolutionary roots.” > **— Bryant McGill**, *Strategic Disengagement, Non-Attachment, and the Whole Self, Part 2 - Livestream (Jun 2016)* [[reminders/Deception/Tactical Deception Reflects Primate Intelligence by Bryant McGill|Tactical Deception Reflects Primate Intelligence by Bryant McGill]]