GROUP BEHAVIOUR

GROUP BEHAVIOUR group behaviour

The Selfish Gene is a book on by Richard Dawkings, 1976

Animal are kind to kin Animals are kind to non-kin Warning cries (help others at your own risk) Food sharing (the case of vampire bats)

Individuals benefit more by working together than working alone.

The benefits outweigh the costReciprocal altruism But there is a problem.... The existence of cheaters (in economic

and sociology they are called free-riders)

SO HOW CAN ALTRUISM EVOLVE? Cooperation is unstable Advantage to genes that lead animal to reap

the benefits without paying the costs Gene A accepts blood from others, share

blood Gene B accepts blood from others, don’t

share blood Gene B will out reproduce Gene A

Warning cries/ buying drinks

CHEATER DETECTION

Reciprocal altruism can only evolve if animals punish cheaters

This requires a mental apparatus

Recognising cheater Remembering the cheater Punish the cheater

A CASE–STUDY ON COOPERATIONTHE PRISONER’S DILEMMA The best case is to defect while the other

person cooperate. The worst case is to cooperate while the

other person defects. Best for both is if each cooperate Worse for both is if each defect

My spouse no My spouse yes

Meno We both do ok

Meyes

My spouse no My spouse yes

Meno

We both do ok

Meyes

I get everything my husband loses everything

My spouse no My spouse yes

Meno

We both do ok

My husband gets everythingI lose everything

Meyes

I get everything my husband loses everything

My spouse no My spouse yes

Meno

We both do ok

My husband gets everything

Meyes

I get everything my husband loses everything

We both lose

Country A cooperate Country A defect

Country Bcooperate

We both do ok

Country B

defect

Country A NO Country A YES

Country BNO

We both do ok

Country B

yes

B gets everythingA gets nothing

Country A NO Country A YES

Country BNO

We both do ok

B gets everythingA gets nothing

Country B

yes

A gets everythingB gets nothing

Country A coop Country A defect

Country Bcoop

We both do ok

A gets everythingB gets nothing

Country B

defect

B gets everythingAgets nothing Both do pretty badly

I want to buy Marijuana from you I have 1000€ Let’s meet behind the gym nobody is going to call the cops so:I could go there with a gun and get the

Marijuana without payingHe could come with a gun and take my money

PRACTICE!! 3 euros each both coop

5 euros /0 euros

63 computer programmes in the 1980s The winner is “Tit-for-Tat” ( by Anatol Rapparport) The programme opens by cooperating, then plays what

the other played in the previous game. Punish for selfish behaviour, reward for cooperative

behaviour. Be NICE you meet someone Not an idiot if you defect I will defect back Forgiving –once you are nice it will be nice right

back Transparent- easy to figure out how to work

together for mutual gain

THE ULTIMATE GAMEPlayer A has 10 eurosPlayer B

Player A can offer from 1 t0 10 B can accept (cooperate) you share the

moneyB can reject (defect) nobody gets anything.5 time in a row

PSYCHOLOGISTS BELIEVE

A rational person is easily exploited. There is some advantage to being irrational,

people are forced by dint of your irrationality to treat you better.

The irrational reaction/violence varies from culture to culture. Violence due to disrespect

the “culture of honour”

PROPERTIES OF THE CULTURE OF HONOUR One cannot rely on law. Resources are easily taken.

Western Cowboys Masai Warriers

American South has more of a culture of honour than the American North.

Corporal punishment is more approved of. Attitudes towards the military are more positive. More violence (not less safety)

Nisbet &Wilson made a psychological experiments.

American Caucasian students. A graduate students bump into the person

looks at him and says “Asshole”

Students from the American South showed higher hormone response and stress response, testerone level and cortisol level increased.

THE ROBBERS CAVE STUDY

11-12 years old boys at a 3 week camping program

Well adjusted WASPs Separate cabins, leaders

“Eagles” and “Rattlers” Distinctive cultures

within group solidarity Negative stereotyping Hostility raids violence

THE ROBBERS CAVE STUDY

Attempts to reduce hostility between the groups:

Peace talks Individual competitions Shared meals Shared movies Fun with firecrackers Sermons on brotherly love

THE ROBBERS CAVE STUDY

What could bring them together?

A SUPERORDINATE GOAL(a common ememy)