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Related Concept Videos

Altruism01:03

Altruism

Altruistic behaviors are “unselfish” behaviors—those that help another individual at the expense of the individual carrying out the behavior. Despite the negative consequences for the altruistic animal, these behaviors are thought to have evolved for several reasons.
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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...
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Voluntary behavior with the intent to help other people is called prosocial behavior. Why do people help other people? Is personal benefit such as feeling good about oneself the only reason people help one another?
Humanistic Psychology01:24

Humanistic Psychology

Humanistic psychology emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to the deterministic and pessimistic nature of behaviorism and psychoanalysis. While behaviorism focused on observable behaviors influenced by the environment and psychoanalysis delved into unconscious motivations, both theories suggested that human actions lacked free will. In contrast, humanistic psychology offers a perspective that emphasizes the innate potential for goodness and growth within every individual.
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Evolutionary Psychology

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Characterization of the Sense of Agency over the Actions of Neural-machine Interface-operated Prostheses
05:21

Characterization of the Sense of Agency over the Actions of Neural-machine Interface-operated Prostheses

Published on: January 7, 2019

Human cooperation.

David G Rand1, Martin A Nowak

  • 1Department of Psychology, Department of Economics, Program in Cognitive Science, School of Management, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|July 17, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cooperation is a puzzle in competitive environments. Mechanisms like direct reciprocity and indirect reciprocity explain cooperative behavior, even in anonymous interactions, by favoring reciprocal strategies.

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The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
06:48

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

Published on: January 19, 2019

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Last Updated: May 9, 2026

Characterization of the Sense of Agency over the Actions of Neural-machine Interface-operated Prostheses
05:21

Characterization of the Sense of Agency over the Actions of Neural-machine Interface-operated Prostheses

Published on: January 7, 2019

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
06:48

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

Published on: January 19, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Behavioral economics
  • Social psychology

Background:

  • Cooperation in competitive environments presents a paradox, as natural selection typically favors self-interest.
  • The evolution of cooperation requires specific mechanisms to overcome the challenges posed by free riders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review empirical evidence for five proposed mechanisms driving cooperation: direct reciprocity, indirect reciprocity, spatial selection, multilevel selection, and kin selection.
  • To explore the reasons behind cooperation in one-shot, anonymous interactions where direct benefits are not apparent.

Main Methods:

  • Review of empirical evidence from laboratory experiments.
  • Analysis of field studies on human interactions.
  • Theoretical arguments regarding the overgeneralization of learned cooperative strategies.

Main Results:

  • Evidence supports direct reciprocity, indirect reciprocity, spatial selection, multilevel selection, and kin selection as mechanisms promoting cooperation.
  • Cooperation in anonymous, one-shot interactions appears to stem from the overgeneralization of strategies learned through repeated interactions.
  • Automatic, intuitive responses favor cooperative strategies that involve reciprocation.

Conclusions:

  • Multiple mechanisms facilitate cooperation in competitive settings.
  • Learned cooperative strategies, particularly those involving reciprocation, can be generalized to situations lacking direct benefits.
  • Intuitive decision-making plays a role in promoting cooperation, even when seemingly disadvantageous.