PSY E112 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Reciprocal Altruism, Nepotism, Inclusive Fitness
Document Summary
Gene is the unit of selection (thing that evolution selects for) Altruistic genes can be selected for an increase in freq. Organisms share varying number of alleles with relatives by common descent inclusive fitness: reproductive success of those who share common genes. Weighted according to coefficients of relatedness to individual. Cat kills young (reducing inclusive fitness), cat saves young by sacrificing herself (increased inclusive fitness) through gene centered selectionist theory, altruistic behaviour in animals has often been found to be nepotistic (tendency to favour relatives over non-relatives) Kinship implicit premise of social contracts; behavioural expectations for anyone connected by these contracts. Develop alliances based on reciprocal altruism (behaving altruistically to another in confidence that same acts will be reciprocated towards them/ their kin) Game theory: social exchange matrix in which payoffs and costs of cooperation are pitted against benefits and costs of defection (non-cooperation) in ongoing personal exchange.
