Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

1.2K
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...
1.2K
Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences01:28

Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences

407
Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...
407
Egoism and Altruism01:55

Egoism and Altruism

94.0K
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?
94.0K
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective01:23

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

440
In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
440
Impact of Individuals on Individuals01:30

Impact of Individuals on Individuals

472
Human behavior is intricately shaped by social influences that arise from interactions with others in diverse contexts. These influences not only mold beliefs and attitudes but also drive the regulation of behaviors through both direct communication and observational learning. The study of these processes falls within the domain of social psychology, which seeks to understand how individuals are affected by and affect those around them.Mechanisms of Social InfluenceDirect social influence...
472
Causes of Social Behavior I: Actions and Characteristics of Individuals01:30

Causes of Social Behavior I: Actions and Characteristics of Individuals

415
The actions and characteristics of others heavily influence the causes of social behaviors. Emotional expressions serve as powerful social signals, shaping behaviors and interactions in significant ways. Whether through direct observation or subconscious processing, individuals constantly adjust their responses based on the emotions and attributes of those around them.Emotional Cues and Social ResponsesFacial expressions, tone of voice, and body language provide crucial emotional cues that...
415

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Universal interpretations of vocal music.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2023
Same author

Acoustic regularities in infant-directed speech and song across cultures.

Nature human behaviour·2022
Same author

Are we there yet? Every computational theory needs a few black boxes, including theories about groups.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2022
Same author

Why Warmth Matters More Than Competence: A New Evolutionary Approach.

Perspectives on psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science·2022
Same author

Toward a productive evolutionary understanding of music.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2021
Same author

Is a Rational Politics of Disaster Possible? Making Useful Decisions for Others in an Experimental Disaster Game.

Political behavior·2021

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 19, 2026

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
08:24

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: August 25, 2023

1.2K

Are Humans Too Generous and Too Punitive? Using Psychological Principles to Further Debates about Human Social

Max M Krasnow1, Andrew W Delton2

  • 1Evolutionary Psychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, USA.

Frontiers in Psychology
|June 16, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human cooperation and punishment are explained by evolved psychology, not just group selection. Understanding cognitive heuristics in real-world environments resolves mysteries in social evolution.

Keywords:
cooperationecological rationalityevolutionary psychologypunishmenttrust

More Related Videos

Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans
12:09

Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans

Published on: March 19, 2014

24.3K
Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
11:51

Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making

Published on: March 2, 2011

15.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 19, 2026

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies
08:24

The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

Published on: August 25, 2023

1.2K
Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans
12:09

Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans

Published on: March 19, 2014

24.3K
Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
11:51

Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making

Published on: March 2, 2011

15.8K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Social Evolution
  • Behavioral Economics

Background:

  • Traditional social evolution theories (reciprocity, reputation) struggle to fully explain human cooperation and punitive behaviors.
  • A shift towards group selection theories has been proposed, but may be premature.
  • The role of evolved psychological mechanisms mediating between selection pressures and behavior has been overlooked.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To argue against the premature adoption of group selection theories for explaining human cooperation and punishment.
  • To highlight the importance of the intervening layer of evolved psychology.
  • To demonstrate how explicit consideration of psychological mechanisms resolves long-standing evolutionary puzzles.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of social evolution theories.
  • Examination of the role of evolved psychological heuristics.
  • Consideration of ecological constraints on information processing.

Main Results:

  • Classic theories are insufficient, but group selection is not the only alternative.
  • Evolved psychological mechanisms, including heuristics, are crucial mediators of behavior.
  • Ecological factors shape the efficiency of these cognitive strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Explicitly modeling evolved psychology resolves mysteries in the evolution of cooperation and punishment.
  • The move to group selection models is premature without considering psychological mediators.
  • Cognitive heuristics, shaped by ecology, offer a powerful explanation for human social behaviors.