Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Assessment of Social Interaction Behaviors
Published on: February 25, 2011
To be or not to be a good social partner?
Laureano Castro1, Miguel A Toro
1Centro Asociado de Madrid, UNED, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Cooperation based in mutual benefit provides a perfect scenario to start selfish behaviors aimed to obtain greater benefit at the expense of the partner. Here we investigate if mutual benefit cooperation can be stable between individuals that cooperate with kindness (good partners) or if they will be displaced by other individuals that try to obtain more benefit with less cost (bad partners). Our model assumes an asymmetry between partners in such a way that one of them (actor) proposes the cooperation whereas the other (receiver) always accepts the offer. It also assumes that actors can choose the partner on the basis of their past experiences with the potential partners. With the help of a simple two-locus mathematical model we show that not only the gene that conditions the actor preference to choose good partners can increase in frequency but also the gene responsible of the good partner behavior.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Social Exchange Theory
Social Exchange Theory
Social Relationships and Well-Being
Relationship Formation
Factors Influencing Attraction V: Social Skills
Factors Influencing Attraction VI: Personality Traits

