Human Universals by Donald E Brown

Author:Donald E Brown
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2017-12-26T05:00:00+00:00

Reciprocity

Another solution to the puzzle entailed by the evolution of altruism is the idea of “reciprocal altruism” (Trivers 1971). An altruistic behavior that is reciprocated has its cost canceled and hence does not pose a serious evolutionary dilemma. But in order for this kind of behavior to prevail—to be more than neutral in its consequences—it must have some benefit for its practitioners. Insofar as reciprocated behaviors create coalitions of reciprocators, who may by virtue of their coalition prevail over those who do not reciprocate, then reciprocity should be selected. As is true of kin selection, the idea of reciprocal altruism rings bells in the minds of at least some anthropologists, since reciprocity has long been recognized as a universal cornerstone of morality, rational action, and group life—and has therefore been central to some of the most famous studies in the whole of anthropology (most are reviewed in Gouldner 1960). The strong moral feeling attached to reciprocity, and the assiduousness with which reciprocal action and reaction are watched also suggest some degree of innateness. The solidarity of kinsmen typically rests on both nepotism and reciprocity.

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