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Sex Affects the Relationship Between Third Party Punishment and Cooperation
Claudia Rodriguez-Ruiz1, José Antonio Muñoz-Reyes2, Marta Iglesias-Julios3
1Biology Department, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. C/Darwin 2, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
Scientific Reports
|March 14, 2019
Summary
Men
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary psychology
- Behavioral economics
Background:
- Prosocial third-party punishment (3PP) deters antisocial behavior, promoting human cooperation.
- 3PP exhibits sexual dimorphism, with men engaging more frequently than women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of sexually dimorphic traits (facial masculinity, 2D:4D ratio) on 3PP.
- To explore the role of these traits in the observed sex differences in 3PP.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 511 women and 328 men participated in a modified Prisoner's Dilemma game.
- Participants decided whether to punish a third party for exploiting cooperation.
Main Results:
- Men were more likely to engage in 3PP than women, primarily driven by cooperative men.
- Higher facial masculinity in men correlated with a lower likelihood of engaging in 3PP.
- No significant influence of facial dimorphism or 2D:4D ratio on 3PP was found in women.
Conclusions:
- Sex differences in 3PP may stem from distinct motivations and fitness implications.
- Facial masculinity in men is a predictor of 3PP behavior, suggesting hormonal influences on punitive decisions.
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