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A solution to the collective action problem in between-group conflict with within-group inequality

Author

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  • Sergey Gavrilets

    (National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, University of Tennessee)

  • Laura Fortunato

    (Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford
    Santa Fe Institute)

Abstract

Conflict with conspecifics from neighbouring groups over territory, mating opportunities and other resources is observed in many social organisms, including humans. Here we investigate the evolutionary origins of social instincts, as shaped by selection resulting from between-group conflict in the presence of a collective action problem. We focus on the effects of the differences between individuals on the evolutionary dynamics. Our theoretical models predict that high-rank individuals, who are able to usurp a disproportional share of resources in within-group interactions, will act seemingly altruistically in between-group conflict, expending more effort and often having lower reproductive success than their low-rank group-mates. Similar behaviour is expected for individuals with higher motivation, higher strengths or lower costs, or for individuals in a leadership position. Our theory also provides an evolutionary foundation for classical equity theory, and it has implications for the origin of coercive leadership and for reproductive skew theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Sergey Gavrilets & Laura Fortunato, 2014. "A solution to the collective action problem in between-group conflict with within-group inequality," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-11, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4526
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4526
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gavrilets, Sergey, 2021. "Coevolution of actions, personal norms, and beliefs about others in social dilemmas," SocArXiv 8sk65, Center for Open Science.
    2. Glowacki, Luke & Wilson, Michael L. & Wrangham, Richard W., 2020. "The evolutionary anthropology of war," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 963-982.
    3. Perry, Logan & Gavrilets, Sergey, 2019. "Foresight in a Game of Leadership," SocArXiv 84yxz, Center for Open Science.
    4. Zachary Garfield & Kristen Syme & Edward H. Hagen, 2020. "Universal and variable leadership dimensions across human societies," Post-Print hal-03162384, HAL.
    5. Rusch, Hannes, 2023. "The logic of human intergroup conflict:," Research Memorandum 014, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    6. Zachary Garfield & Ryan Schacht & Emily Post & Dominique Ingram & Andrea Uehling & Shane Macfarlan, 2021. "The content and structure of reputation domains across human societies: a view from the evolutionary social sciences," Post-Print hal-03368986, HAL.
    7. Boyu Zhang & Yali Dong & Cheng-Zhong Qin & Sergey Gavrilets, 2023. "Kinship can hinder cooperation in heterogeneous populations," Papers 2305.19026, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2023.
    8. Faye J Thompson & Michael A Cant, 2018. "Dynamic conflict among heterogeneous groups: a comment on Christensen and Radford," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 29(5), pages 1016-1017.
    9. Bart Kranstauber & Marta B Manser, 2018. "Mating and/or social system to explain territorial responses: a comment on Christensen and Radford," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 29(5), pages 1017-1018.
    10. Böhm, Robert & Rusch, Hannes & Baron, Jonathan, 2020. "The psychology of intergroup conflict: A review of theories and measures," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 947-962.
    11. Guo, Zi-Xuan & He, Jun-Zhou & Li, Qing-Ming & Shi, Lei & Wang, Rui-Wu, 2023. "Asymmetric interaction and diverse forms in public goods production in volunteer dilemma game," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    12. Dong, Yali & Gavrilets, Sergey & Qin, Cheng-Zhong & Zhang, Boyu, 2024. "Kinship can hinder cooperation in heterogeneous populations," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 231-243.
    13. Tverskoi, Denis & Senthilnathan, Athmanathan & Gavrilets, Sergey, 2021. "The dynamics of cooperation, power, and inequality in a group-structured society," SocArXiv 24svr, Center for Open Science.
    14. Barau, Aliyu Salisu & Abubakar, Ismaila Rimi & Kafi, Kamil Muhammad & Olugbodi, Kemi Hamdat & Abubakar, Jibrin Ibrahim, 2023. "Dynamics of negotiated use of public open spaces between children and adults in an African city," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    15. Riccardo Pansini & Marco Campennì & Lei Shi, 2020. "Segregating socioeconomic classes leads to an unequal redistribution of wealth," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, December.

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