Week 7 Evolution of Altruism (Ch. 4)

Question 1

What is altruism?

Answer 1

occurs when an individual helps another, but in so doing they accrue some cost.

• Altruism is characterized by selflessness and concern for the well-being of others. Those who possess this quality typically put others first and truly care about the people around them, whether they have a personal tie to them or not.

Question 2

What is cooperation?

Answer 2

refers to some situation in which one individual help another and in so doing gains some advantage

Question 3

What are the two important theories of altruism?

Answer 3

• kin selection
• recipricol altruism

Question 4

What is kin selection?

Answer 4

argues that altruism increased for survival of relatives

• one individual may perish but this increase the likelihood that other geentically related individuals survived
• direct more acts of altruism towards relatives rather than non-relatives

Question 5

What is an example of kin selection?

Answer 5

squirrel calling about predators

Question 6

Homosexuality and altruism?

Answer 6

Question 7

Fa’fafine & altruism?

Answer 7

Question 8

What is recipricol altruism?

Answer 8

argues that altruism is in essence, long-term cooperation not genetic relatedness

• one member may help another but that assistance is expected to be recipricated at some time in the future