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Upstream reciprocity and the evolution of gratitude
Martin A Nowak1, Sébastien Roch
1Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. martin_nowak@harvard.edu
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|January 27, 2007
Summary
Acts of kindness can spread even when not directly returned. Upstream reciprocity, or gratitude, boosts cooperation when combined with other strategies, showing how positive emotions can evolve.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Game Theory
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Everyday experiences and experimental games demonstrate that recipients of kindness often reciprocate, even towards third parties.
- This phenomenon, termed 'upstream reciprocity,' suggests a misdirected gratitude where individuals help others because they were previously helped themselves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary and game-theoretic viability of upstream reciprocity.
- To determine if upstream reciprocity alone can drive the evolution of cooperation.
- To explore conditions under which upstream reciprocity can enhance cooperation levels.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of evolutionary game models incorporating upstream reciprocity.
- Calculation of random walks for altruistic acts influenced by upstream reciprocity.
- Game-theoretic simulations to assess the evolution of cooperation.
Main Results:
- Upstream reciprocity, in isolation, does not lead to the evolution of cooperation.
- When combined with direct or spatial reciprocity, upstream reciprocity can evolve and significantly increase cooperation.
- The study models the spread of altruism driven by gratitude and related emotions.
Conclusions:
- Gratitude and similar positive emotions can evolve through natural selection.
- Upstream reciprocity is a viable mechanism for increasing cooperation when integrated with other reciprocity strategies.
- These findings offer insights into the evolutionary basis of prosocial behaviors and emotions.
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