Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
10:00
Methods of Pairing and Pair Maintenance of New Zealand White Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) Via Behavioral Ethogram, Monitoring, and Interventions
Published on: March 16, 2018
The coevolution of long-term pair bonds and cooperation
1Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. zysong@stanford.edu
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|March 19, 2013
Summary
Long-term pair bonds can coevolve with cooperation in parental care. Stable pair bonds promote cooperation by influencing social structure and partner interactions, especially when bonding costs are low.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Behavioral ecology
- Game theory
Background:
- Social traits evolution is influenced by population social structure.
- Pairwise cooperation, like biparental care, depends on pair-matching distributions.
- Pair-matching dynamics emerge from individual pair-bonding traits under selection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the coevolution of long-term pair bonds and cooperation in parental care.
- To investigate how pair-bonding dynamics influence cooperative behaviors.
- To analyze the conditions promoting the stability of cooperation and pair bonds.
Main Methods:
- Developed an analytical model.
- Utilized individual-based simulations.
- Modeled partners playing a Snowdrift game each breeding season.
Main Results:
- Long-term pair bonds can coevolve with cooperation below a bonding cost threshold.
- Pair bonds promote cooperation through assortative interactions and pair-matching dynamics.
- Evolutionarily stable equilibrium depends on bonding cost, divorce rate, and balancing selection.
Conclusions:
- Ecological factors influencing social bonding cost and stability are crucial for understanding social behavior evolution.
- Coevolution of social behavior and structure can lead to diverse biological social systems.
- Pair-bonding dynamics play a significant role in the maintenance and prevalence of cooperation.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Companionate Love
Companionate love is a fundamental aspect of long-term relationships, characterized by deep affection, mutual respect, and emotional intimacy. Unlike passionate love, which is driven by intense emotions and physical attraction but often declines over time, companionate love remains stable and can even strengthen with shared experiences and commitment. Psychological and biological mechanisms underpin this enduring form of love, influencing relationship longevity and satisfaction.Stability and...
02:06Social Exchange Theory
We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003).
01:26Social Exchange Theory
As formulated by John Thibaut and Harold Kelley, Social Exchange Theory explains human relationships as economic-like exchanges that maximize rewards and minimize costs. This theory suggests that individuals engage in relationships to gain benefits and reduce burdens, similar to economic transactions. It has been widely applied to various types of relationships, including romantic, professional, and social interactions.Rewards and Costs in RelationshipsRelationship rewards include emotional...
01:26Microbial Interactions: Cooperation
Microbial cooperation involves beneficial interactions in which different species work together for individual or mutual advantage. These interactions can profoundly influence ecological dynamics and evolutionary processes, and they are essential to many pathogenic and symbiotic relationships.Nematode–Bacteria CooperationA striking example is the relationship between the Gram-negative bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila and the parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. Juvenile nematodes...
01:27Relationship Growth
Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
01:20Evolutionary Psychology
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...