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Greater Male Variability in Cooperation: Meta-Analytic Evidence for an Evolutionary Perspective.

Christian Thöni1, Stefan Volk2, Jose M Cortina3

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|December 10, 2020
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Men and women show similar average cooperation levels, but men exhibit greater variability in behavior. This research explores sex differences in cooperation, considering intrasex variability.

Keywords:
cooperationdecision makingevolutionary psychologysex differences

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Behavioral Economics
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • The question of systematic sex differences in cooperation behaviors has yielded inconsistent research findings.
  • Existing evolutionary perspectives suggest potential sex-differentiated psychological adaptations influencing cooperation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that men exhibit greater intrasex variability in cooperation due to sex-differentiated psychological adaptations.
  • To investigate sex differences in cooperation behaviors using a meta-analytic approach.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted two meta-analyses utilizing raw data from social-dilemma studies and organizational citizenship behavior studies.
  • Analyzed data from a total of 68 samples comprising 22,108 participants.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference was found in the average cooperation levels between men and women.
  • Men demonstrated significantly greater intrasex variability, displaying more instances of both selfish and altruistic behavior.
  • Women were more consistently found to exhibit moderate levels of cooperation.

Conclusions:

  • Intrasex variability is a crucial factor when examining sex differences in cooperation.
  • The findings support an evolutionary perspective emphasizing sex-differentiated psychological adaptations.
  • Future research should prioritize the consideration of intrasex variability in cooperation studies.