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Perspectives from ethnography on weak and strong reciprocity.
1Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA. wiessner@soft-link.com
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|February 1, 2012
Summary
This study explores why experimental and ethnographic evidence on cooperation differ, suggesting cooperation-supporting institutions exist beyond complex societies. It examines challenges in measuring the costs of reciprocity in human cooperation.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Anthropology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Experimental and ethnographic studies offer differing perspectives on cooperation.
- Understanding the costs associated with reciprocity is crucial for cooperation theories.
- The role of institutions in facilitating cooperation requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To integrate ethnographic insights into existing arguments about cooperation.
- To identify reasons for discrepancies between experimental and ethnographic cooperation data.
- To explore the measurement challenges of reciprocity costs and the scope of cooperative institutions.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of ethnographic data.
- Theoretical argumentation integrating diverse evidence.
- Conceptual analysis of reciprocity and institutional costs.
Main Results:
- Identified specific reasons for the divergence of experimental and ethnographic evidence on cooperation.
- Highlighted difficulties in empirically measuring the costs of positive and negative reciprocity.
- Proposed that institutions supporting cooperation are not exclusive to complex societies.
Conclusions:
- Ethnographic data provides a valuable, distinct perspective on cooperation.
- Accurate measurement of reciprocity costs remains a significant challenge.
- Cooperation-sustaining institutions may be more widespread across societal types than previously assumed.
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