PSYCH 2C03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Prosocial Behavior, Reciprocal Altruism, Kin Selection
16 Dec 2015
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Document Summary
Prosocial behavior- any act performed with the goal of benefitting another person. Altruism- the desire to help others, even if it involves a cost to the helper. Makes the argument that risking your life/wasting your time to help someone else is adaptive; will make your survival more likely- more likely that copies of your genes will make it into the next generation and survive. According to charles darwin"s theory of evolution, natural selection favours genes that promote the survival of the individual. Altruism based on kin selection is the enemy of civilization: kin selection. Inclusive fitness: our selfish genes protect themselves; make us do things causing them to live, save copies of our genes. Preferentially help people who have copies of our genes in them. Fitness value (relatedness, age, gender)- will this creature reproduce enough to continue on with my genes, more likely to reproduce later on; protect those who have more fit genes.
