Reciprocal Altruism

Synonyms

Evolution of cooperation

Definition

Behavioral strategy where the actor incurs a cost and the recipient receives a benefit in terms of reproductive success, where the return benefit may be reciprocated at a later time.

Introduction

An unresolved issue with Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection was altruistic behavior in nature. Unrelated individuals engaging in behavior where the actor incurs a cost, and the recipient a benefit (in terms of reproductive success), appears counterintuitive to evolutionary logic, where individual organisms are expected to engage in behaviors that directly increase survival and the probability of genetic representation in future generations.

Background

In 1964, WD Hamilton laid out the logic for altruism being selected for in related individuals, based on kin selection and inclusive fitness theory. Hamilton utilized evolutionary logic acting at the level of the gene, and mathematical modeling to explain how altruistic behavior could...