scholarly journals Partner choice in human evolution: The role of cooperation, foraging ability, and culture in Hadza campmate preferences

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristopher M Smith ◽  
Coren Lee Apicella
Keyword(s):  
Partner Choice ◽  
Evolution Of Cooperation ◽  
Cultural Institutions ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Social Partners ◽  
Foraging Ability ◽  
Human Social Behavior ◽  
The Relationship

The ability to choose the partners we interact with is thought to have been an important driver in the evolution of human social behavior, and in particular, our propensity to cooperate. Studies showing that humans prefer to interact with cooperative others is often cited as support for partner choice driving the evolution of cooperation. However, these studies are largely drawn from Western samples, where conditions for partner choice to operate may be especially favorable. Here, we investigate qualities associated with being a preferred partner (i.e., campmate) in Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania in 2016 and 2019. A total of 156 Hadza participants from 17 camps ranked their campmates on generosity, foraging ability, and their preference for them as future campmates. In 2016, Hadza preferred more generous people and better hunters as campmates, with evidence suggesting a stronger preference for better hunters; however, the relationship between generosity and being a preferred campmate was greater in 2019 than in 2016, such that the preference for generous people was stronger than the preference for better foragers, suggesting that campmate preferences are changing. These new findings contrast with reports on data from nearly a decade ago, suggesting that the Hadza do not prefer more cooperative campmates. Further, in 2019, there was anecdotal evidence that Hadza with greater exposure to outside cultural institutions (e.g., schooling, having a job, or living in a village) had a stronger preference for generous campmates than those with less exposure. Taken together, the results suggest that preferences for social partners may, in part, be culturally shaped.

scholarly journals Cooperation for direct fitness benefits

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1553) ◽  
pp. 2619-2626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olof Leimar ◽  
Peter Hammerstein
Keyword(s):  
Partner Choice ◽  
Common Interest ◽  
Evolution Of Cooperation ◽  
Empirical Testing ◽  
Direct Benefits ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Fitness Benefits ◽  
Alternative Processes ◽  
Trait Correlations

Studies of the evolution of helping have traditionally used the explanatory frameworks of reciprocity and altruism towards relatives, but recently there has been an increasing interest in other kinds of explanations. We review the success or otherwise of work investigating alternative processes and mechanisms, most of which fall under the heading of cooperation for direct benefits. We evaluate to what extent concepts such as by-product benefits, pseudo-reciprocity, sanctions and partner choice, markets and the build-up of cross-species spatial trait correlations have contributed to the study of the evolution of cooperation. We conclude that these alternative ideas are successful and show potential to further increase our understanding of cooperation. We also bring up the origin and role of common interest in the evolution of cooperation, including the appearance of organisms. We note that there are still unresolved questions about the main processes contributing to the evolution of common interest. Commenting on the broader significance of the recent developments, we argue that they represent a justified balancing of the importance given to different major hypotheses for the evolution of cooperation. This balancing is beneficial because it widens considerably the range of phenomena addressed and, crucially, encourages empirical testing of important theoretical alternatives.

scholarly journals Hadza hunter-gatherers prefer deontologists as social partners, but most Hadza are not deontologists

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristopher M Smith ◽  
Coren Lee Apicella
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Moral Reasoning ◽  
Partner Choice ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Social Selection ◽  
Moral Decision ◽  
Moral Decision Making ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Social Partners

Researchers hypothesize that social selection resulting from partner choice may have shaped deontological moral reasoning in humans. Indeed, people in Western societies judge deontologists to be more cooperative and trustworthy than utilitarians, and prefer them as partners. We test if the preference for deontologists as social partners generalizes to a small-scale society, specifically the Hadza, who are extant hunter-gatherers residing in Tanzania. We presented 134 Hadza participants with three ecologically-relevant sacrificial dilemmas and asked them to judge whether the actor should sacrifice one person to save five. We then randomly assigned participants to hear that the actor made either a deontological or utilitarian decision and asked them to make moral and partner choice judgments about the actor in the dilemma. Participants were ambivalent about whether the actor should make the utilitarian decision. However, participants who said the actor should make the deontological decision judged the utilitarian option worse, but participants who said the actor should make the utilitarian decision judged both actions to be equally bad. Regardless of whether participants believed the actor should make the utilitarian decision, participants judged the utilitarian actor lower on traits considered important for social partners, compared to the deontological actor. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that utilitarians are perceived worse than deontologists. However, because participants do not show a preference for the deontological option, it raises questions as to whether partner choice shaped deontological moral decision-making in humans.

scholarly journals Nothing better to do? Environment quality and the evolution of cooperation by partner choice

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Ecoffet ◽  
Nicolas Bredeche ◽  
Jean-Baptiste André
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Partner Choice ◽  
The Other ◽  
Evolution Of Cooperation ◽  
Specific Interactions ◽  
Human Species ◽  
Apparent Paradox ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Social Opportunities ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThe effects of partner choice have been documented in a large number of biological systems such as sexual markets, inter-specific mutualisms, or human cooperation. By contrast, this mechanism has never been demonstrated in a large number of intra-specific interactions in non-human animals such as collective hunts, although one would expect it to play a role as well. Here we use individual-based simulations to solve this apparent paradox. We show that the conditions for partner choice to operate are in fact restrictive. They entail that individuals can compare social opportunities and choose the best. The challenge is that social opportunities are often rare because they necessitate the co-occurrence of (i) at least one available partner, and (ii) a resource to exploit together with this partner. This has three consequences. Firstly, partner choice cannot lead to the evolution of cooperation when resources are scarce, which explains that this mechanism could never be observed in many cases of intra-specific cooperation in animals. On the other hand, partner choice can operate when partners constitute in themselves a resource, which is the case in sexual inter-actions and inter-specific mutualisms. Lastly, partner choice can lead to the evolution of cooperation when individuals are highly efficient at finding resources in their environment, which sheds light on the relationship between cognitive abilities and cooperation, in particular in the human species.

Does rational culture matter in the relationship between lean manufacturing practices and operational productivity?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Choon Hee Ong ◽  
You Ying Koo ◽  
Owee Kowang Tan ◽  
Chin Fei Goh
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Lean Manufacturing ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the role of rational culture in the relationship between lean manufacturing practices and operational productivity in the machinery and equipment industry.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a cross-sectional quantitative approach to conduct the research. Using an online survey questionnaire, 118 responses were collected. SPSS was used to assess validity, reliability and hypothesis testing of the study variables. Hierarchical regression analysis was employed to investigate the moderating effects of rational culture.FindingsThe study results reveal that quick setup and quality control were significantly related to operational productivity. Rational culture was a significant quasi-moderator.Practical implicationsThis study highlights the importance of quick setup and quality control for machinery and equipment firms to gain higher operational productivity. Rational culture could be used to drive the firms toward greater achievements in this regard.Originality/valueThe use of rational culture as a quasi-moderator in the relationship between lean manufacturing practices and operational productivity is unprecedented. This study offers new findings by introducing the role of rational culture to enhance the effects of lean manufacturing practices on operational productivity.

scholarly journals Hunter-gatherers maintain assortativity in cooperation despite high-levels of residential change and mixing

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristopher M. Smith ◽  
Tomás Larroucau ◽  
Ibrahim A. Mabulla ◽  
Coren L. Apicella
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Cooperative Behavior ◽  
High Mobility ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Evolution Of Cooperation ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Nation States ◽  
The Social ◽  
Adaptive Nature

SUMMARYWidespread cooperation is a defining feature of human societies from hunter-gatherer bands to nation states. But explaining its evolution remains a challenge. While positive assortment – of cooperators with cooperators – is recognized as a basic requirement for the evolution of cooperation, the mechanisms governing assortment are debated. Moreover, the social structure of modern hunter-gatherers, characterized by high mobility, residential mixing and low genetic relatedness, undermine assortment and add to the puzzle of how cooperation evolved. Here, we analyze four years of data (2010, 2013, 2014, 2016) tracking residence and levels of cooperation elicited from a public goods game (PG), in Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania. Data were collected from 56 camps, comprising 383 unique individuals, 137 of whom we have data for two or more years. Despite significant residential mixing, we observe a robust pattern of assortment necessary for cooperation to evolve: In every year, Hadza camps exhibit high between-camp and low within-camp variation in cooperation. We further consider the role of homophily in generating this assortment. We find little evidence that cooperative behavior within individuals is stable over time or that similarity in cooperation between dyads predicts their future cohabitation. Both sets of findings are inconsistent with homophilic models that assume stable cooperative and selfish types. Consistent with social norms, culture and reciprocity theories, the data suggest that the strongest predictor of an individual’s level of cooperation in any given year is the mean cooperation of their campmates in that year. These findings underscore the adaptive nature of human cooperation – particularly its responsiveness to social contexts – as a feature important in generating the assortment necessary for cooperation to evolve.

scholarly journals The Role of Metamemory in Eyewitness Testimony

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renan Benigno Saraiva
Keyword(s):  
Eyewitness Identification ◽  
Eyewitness Memory ◽  
Eyewitness Testimony ◽  
Identification Accuracy ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Eyewitness Accuracy ◽  
New Information ◽  
New Findings ◽  
The Relationship

Estimating eyewitness memory accuracy is crucial in forensic settings, given the need for efficient investigations and the negative consequences of erroneous testimony. In fact, mistaken identifications of innocent suspects have contributed to numerous miscarriages of justice, which often results in many years of innocent lives spent in prison. Eyewitness psychology research has established that eyewitness memory is not a permanent record of perceived events and may be tainted by a number of different factors. Witnesses recollections of important facts not only deteriorate over time but can also be negatively distorted by new information introduced after the original experience. In this thesis, the overarching goal of the research was to test the utility of metamemory assessments as postdictors of eyewitness performance. Metamemory research is essential for a comprehensive understanding of how people use and perceive their own memory, but it has not yet been thoroughly explored in eyewitness settings. Six experiments were conducted, providing new findings that help elucidate the relationship between metamemory and eyewitness accuracy, confidence, and over/underconfidence in forensic settings. More specifically, I investigate how self-ratings of memory ability relate to eyewitness performance in the identification and free recall contexts. These experiments provided initial evidence that some metamemory factors may be important indicators of eyewitness identification accuracy and confidence. It has also been found that eyewitness-specific metamemory factors are predictive of identification accuracy for both biased and unbiased lineups. In this thesis, I summarize the main findings of this novel line of research, presenting the challenges and prospects facing future eyewitness metamemory research.

Magnesium and its transporters in cancer: a novel paradigm in tumour development

2012 ◽  
Vol 123 (7) ◽  
pp. 417-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica I. Wolf ◽  
Valentina Trapani
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Tumour Cell ◽  
Magnesium Deficiency ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Human Tumour ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Frequent Finding ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between magnesium and cancer is not as simple as could be assumed from the well-established requirement of magnesium for cell proliferation. Basic and pre-clinical studies indicate that magnesium deficiency can have both anti- and pro-tumour effects. In the present review, we briefly outline the new findings on the role of magnesium in angiogenesis and metastatization, and focus on the relationship between tumour cell proliferation and metabolic reprogramming, discussing how magnesium and its transporters are involved in these processes. The role of magnesium in cancer is also critically examined with regard to mitochondrial function, apoptosis and resistance to treatment. Finally, we bring together the latest experimental evidence indicating that alteration in the expression and/or activity of magnesium channels is a frequent finding in cancer cells and human tumour tissues examined to date, and we discuss the potential implications for developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Choosing a Markov blanket

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Parr
Keyword(s):  
Markov Blanket ◽  
Target Article ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract This commentary focuses upon the relationship between two themes in the target article: the ways in which a Markov blanket may be defined and the role of precision and salience in mediating the interactions between what is internal and external to a system. These each rest upon the different perspectives we might take while “choosing” a Markov blanket.

Staring Down Death

Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 212-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas E. Joiner ◽  
Melanie A. Hom ◽  
Megan L. Rogers ◽  
Carol Chu ◽  
Ian H. Stanley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Clinical Utility ◽  
Blink Rate ◽  
Specific Task ◽  
Careful Planning ◽  
Eye Blink ◽  
Eye Blinks ◽  
Potential Clinical Utility ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. Background: Lowered eye blink rate may be a clinically useful indicator of acute, imminent, and severe suicide risk. Diminished eye blink rates are often seen among individuals engaged in heightened concentration on a specific task that requires careful planning and attention. Indeed, overcoming one’s biological instinct for survival through suicide necessitates premeditation and concentration; thus, a diminished eye blink rate may signal imminent suicidality. Aims: This article aims to spur research and clinical inquiry into the role of eye blinks as an indicator of acute suicide risk. Method: Literature relevant to the potential connection between eye blink rate and suicidality was reviewed and synthesized. Results: Anecdotal, cognitive, neurological, and conceptual support for the relationship between decreased blink rate and suicide risk is outlined. Conclusion: Given that eye blinks are a highly observable behavior, the potential clinical utility of using eye blink rate as a marker of suicide risk is immense. Research is warranted to explore the association between eye blink rate and acute suicide risk.

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