Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2025

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
Inequality leads to the evolution of intolerance in reputation-based populations
1Grupo de Sistemas Complejos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
This work studies the impact of economic inequality on the evolution of intolerance through a reputation-based model of indirect reciprocity. Results show that economic inequality is a powerful enhancer of intolerance, inducing the escalation of out-group discrimination even without the presence of new intolerant mutants. It also generates behavior modifications within tolerant disfavored minorities: their members either relax punishments against the uncooperative or prioritize helping the wealthy, even suffering discrimination in return. On the other hand, the redistribution of wealth is proven as a viable solution to avoid the spread of intolerance as long as it increases equality and is implemented before intolerance permeates part of the population.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
In- and Out-Groups
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Genetic Drift
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Limits to Natural Selection
Hardy-Weinberg Principle

