Lecture 15 Social Emotion

Question 1

Mutualism

Answer 1

Individual benefitting himself and others

Question 2

Parasitism/Predation/ Agression

Answer 2

Benefitting yourself with a cost to others

Question 3

Altruism

Answer 3

Benefitting others with a cost to yourself

Question 4

Punishment/Spite

Answer 4

Putting a cost to yourself and others

Question 5

Naive Group Selection

Answer 5

• Hypothesis that individuals put a cost to themselves to benefit the population/community/group as a whole
• Lemmings: Starvation Mass suicide
• FALSE BELIEF- Lemmings have mass migrations that led to many of their deaths

Question 6

Altruism and Evolution

Answer 6

Altruism an evolutionary mystery because those that put a cost to themselves(energy, time, food) allow others more resources to reproduce
-More selfish people reproducing means they eventually take over the population

Question 7

Critiques of Naive Goodism

Answer 7

• Selfish individuals would eventually take over the population-only takes one individual to take advantage of another altruism
• Bird Grooming- One bird has all others groom head without returning the favor

Question 8

Ubiquity of Selfishness in Animal Kingdom

Answer 8

• Deadbeat dads

- Emperor Penguins

Question 9

Units of Selection

Answer 9

NOT INDIVIDUALS- individuals cannot be cloned, must sexually reproduce
Lamarck incorrect-Indivually acquired traits not inherited
GENES- Genes ultimately replicate themselves
-Dominate the bodies who are most fit, and become the genes that are the most passed on

Question 10

REAL Altruism in the Animal Kingdom

Answer 10

• Birds grooming each others heads

- Food sharing among bats

Question 11

Reciprocal Altruism

Answer 11

Gains in trading certain acts
- Non zero game, everyone wins
Delayed Exchange- Only opportunity of vulnerability

Question 12

Requirements for Reciprocal Altruism

Answer 12

• Large benefit at small cost to you
• Roles: Something must revers
• Must be able to remember individuals
• Remember who helped and who hurt
• Withhold favors accordingly

Question 13

Prisoners Dillema

Answer 13

Cooperate- Not give in to police
Defect-Give in to Police
Both Cooperate: 6 months
One Cooperates, One Defects: Defector Goes Free, Cooperator gets 10 years
Both Defect: 6 years in prison
Best Individual Payoff- Get out Free, partner does 10 years
Best Group Payoff: Both cooperate, only get 6 months
-Both individuals typically act selfishly, both defect: WORSE THAN IF THEY BOTH COOPERATED

Question 14

Iterated Prisoners Dilemma

Answer 14

Repeatedly play Prisoners Dilemma Strategy: Tit for Tat

• Cooperate first move and reciprocate the moves that the other player makes
  1. Shows nice act - Cooperated first
  2. Cannot be exploited- Will defect them if they defect you
  3. Transparent Method- Other player easily recognizes the strategy and realizes the greatest benefit is to cooperate.
  4. Forgiving- Even if other player had defected multiple times, as soon as he cooperates, you cooperate

Question 15

Cognitive Abilities Required for Reciprocal Altruism

Answer 15

1. Memory for the individuals that are encountered- specialized brain areas to identify others
2. Sensitivity to cheaters- (People who take benefit without taking a cost)

Question 16

Confirmation Bias

Answer 16

People seek to confirm their own hypotheses but do not seek to falsify them

Question 17

Emotions adapted for Reciprocal Altruism

Answer 17

-Liking those who cooperate with you
- Anger- Reaction to those who cheat
- Gratitude- Reaction to being helped and wanting to return the favor
- Sympathy- Help those most in need to earn gratitude- great benefit with small cost because building reputation
Guilt- Bestow extra benefit after cheating (compensation for cooperation)
Shame- Punish self for cheating
Forgiveness- Allowing small cheating incidents without punishment so that one does not completely cease from cooperation

Question 18

Human Special Features

Answer 18

Don’t have to physically see the cheating– Can hear about it other ways
Importance of Reputation- Has someone cooperated/defected in the past?
Honor and Commitment- Do you just cooperate in principle or only when it benefits you

Question 19

Ultimatum Game

Answer 19

Proposer and Acceptor
Proposer splits the money
Acceptor either takes the deal or leaves it.
Optimal: Acceptor accepts any offer because something is better than nothing
Actual: Acceptor tends to reject any offers that are not fair
Optimal: Proposer offers minimal amount to acceptor and keeps the majority
Actual: Proposer evenly divides the money

Question 20

Ultimatum Game Results

Answer 20

• Acceptor rejects because human disposition to be angry with cheating (insula=unpleasant emotions activated)
• Proposer- anticipates the angry response of the acceptor
• proposer responds more to angrier acceptors– anger makes threats credible

Question 21

Paradoxical Rationality of Irrational Passion

Answer 21

Acceptors spite is self destructive in short term- both get nothing instead of both getting something
-BUT boosts reputation in long term, shows future proposers they will not be exploited

Question 22

Threat

Answer 22

Costly to both parties if actually carried out
Only beneficial if threatener scares threatenee
DANGER- if threatenee calls out the bluff
SOLUTION- Passionate anger makes threats credible

Question 23

Paradoxical Tactics

Answer 23

• Advantage to lack of self control: forces other person to give up or give in because you can’t
• Advantage to lack of rationality: Perceived as hothead and crazy enough to carry out on your threats

Question 24

Reasons for Unreciprocated Altruism

Answer 24

• Niceness and honor help guarantee promises made are not doublecross
• Best way to convince someone of your virtue