Why do we feel good about giving to charity when there is no direct benefit to ourselves, and feel bad about cheating the system? Mathematicians may have found an answer to the longstanding puzzle as to why we have evolved ...
Social Sciences
Jul 19, 2016
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1890
Behavioral economists have revolutionized the standard view of human nature. No longer are people presumed to be purely selfish, only acting in their own interest. Hundreds of experiments appear to show that most people are ...
Social Sciences
Jan 14, 2015
8
24
(Phys.org) —A study done by philosophers Patrick Forber of Tufts University and Rory Smead of Northwestern University, suggests fairness in societies evolves out of a fear of spite from others, rather than due to an increase ...
With new insights into the classical game theory match-up known as the "Prisoner's Dilemma," University of Pennsylvania biologists offer a mathematically based explanation for why cooperation and generosity have evolved in ...
Evolution
Sep 2, 2013
4
0
(Phys.org) —A pair of researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara has concluded that when it comes to sharing, there is little difference between human and non-human primates—all expect something in return. ...
(Phys.org) —A paper published today in Current Biology demonstrates that even in the hopeless situation of colony collapse, queenless honeybees will still show remarkable altruism towards their colony, defending and feeding ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 2, 2013
0
0
From Brad Pitt fighting zombies to Superman falling for Lois Lane, summer blockbuster season is upon us. But while Hollywood keeps trotting out new movies for the masses, plotlines barely change.
Social Sciences
Jun 12, 2013
0
0
(Phys.org) —Given the chance, women are more likely than men to opt out of a request to give a charitable donation, a group of economists have found.
Economics & Business
May 27, 2013
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0
Dr Jason Roach of the University of Huddersfield, along with co-author Professor Ken Pease, has published a new book addressing the controversial issue of employing evolutionary theory to analyse criminal behaviour. UK criminologists ...
Social Sciences
Apr 26, 2013
3
0
(Phys.org) —That Homo sapiens exhibits both cooperative and competitive behavior is a topic that continues to be the subject of ongoing discussion. In terms of cooperation, altruism (a selfless type of prosocial behavior ...
