Sergey Gavrilets: Collective action and the internalization of social norms
- Date: Oct 25, 2016
- Time: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
- Speaker: Sergey Gavrilets from the University of Tennessee, USA
- For more information, please check http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gavrila/
- Location: MPI Plön
- Room: Lecture hall
- Host: Arne Traulsen
Abstract:
Human behavior is strongly affected by
culturally transmitted norms and values.
Certain norms are internalized, that is,
acting according to a norm becomes an
end in itself rather than merely a tool in
achieving certain goals or avoiding social
sanctions. Humans' capacity to internalize and
follow norms likely evolved in our
ancestors to simplify solving certain
challenges -- including social ones. Here I
theoretically study the evolutionary origins
of the capacity to internalize norms.
I show that norm internalization evolves under
a wide range of conditions simplifying
cooperation to a level when it becomes
"instinctive". Norm internalization evolves
much easier and has much larger effects on
behavior if groups promote peer
punishment of free-riders. Promoting only
participation in collective actions is not
effective. Evolving norm internalization
always increases individual payoffs in
collective
actions aiming to overcome nature challenges
but decreases them in conflicts with
other groups. Models also predict significant
genetic variation in the ability to
internalize
norms. Evolving the ability to internalize
norms was a crucial step on the path to
large-scale human cooperation.