Lecture 15 Social Emotion Flashcards
Mutualism
Individual benefitting himself and others
Parasitism/Predation/ Agression
Benefitting yourself with a cost to others
Altruism
Benefitting others with a cost to yourself
Punishment/Spite
Putting a cost to yourself and others
Naive Group Selection
- 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
Altruism and Evolution
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
Critiques of Naive Goodism
- 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
Ubiquity of Selfishness in Animal Kingdom
- Deadbeat dads
- Emperor Penguins
Units of Selection
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
REAL Altruism in the Animal Kingdom
- Birds grooming each others heads
- Food sharing among bats
Reciprocal Altruism
Gains in trading certain acts
- Non zero game, everyone wins
Delayed Exchange- Only opportunity of vulnerability
Requirements for Reciprocal Altruism
- 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
Prisoners Dillema
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
Iterated Prisoners Dilemma
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
Cognitive Abilities Required for Reciprocal Altruism
- Memory for the individuals that are encountered- specialized brain areas to identify others
- Sensitivity to cheaters- (People who take benefit without taking a cost)
Confirmation Bias
People seek to confirm their own hypotheses but do not seek to falsify them
Emotions adapted for Reciprocal Altruism
-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
Human Special Features
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
Ultimatum Game
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
Ultimatum Game Results
- 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
Paradoxical Rationality of Irrational Passion
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
Threat
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
Paradoxical Tactics
- 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
Reasons for Unreciprocated Altruism
- Niceness and honor help guarantee promises made are not doublecross
- Best way to convince someone of your virtue
