Wanderlust
Regular Member
- Messages
- 136
- Reaction score
- 56
- Points
- 0
- Ethnic group
- Scandinavian
- Y-DNA haplogroup
- I1-L22
- mtDNA haplogroup
- X2
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160713102955.htm
"Camp stability predicts patterns of hunter–gatherer cooperation"
Date: July 13, 2016
Source:University College London - UCL
Reciprocal food-sharing is more prevalent in stable hunter-gatherer camps, shows new UCL research that sheds light on the evolutionary roots of human cooperation.
The research explores patterns of food-sharing among the Agta, a population of Filipino hunter-gatherers. It finds that reciprocal food-sharing is more prevalent in stable camps (with fewer changes in membership over time); while in less stable camps individuals acquire resources by taking from others -- known as 'demand sharing'.
Exploring social dynamics in the last remaining groups of present day hunter-gatherers is essential for understanding the factors that shaped the evolution of our widespread cooperation, especially with non-kin.
The study, published in the Royal Society journal Open Science, is the first to report a real-world association between patterns of cooperation and group stability.
First author of the study, Daniel Smith (UCL Anthropology), said: "Cooperation between unrelated individuals is rare in animals, yet extensive among humans. Reciprocity -- the principle of "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" -- may explain this non-kin cooperation, yet requires stable groups and repeated interactions to evolve.
"Our research shows that hunter-gatherer cooperation is extremely flexible -- reflecting either reciprocity or demand sharing depending on the frequency of repeated interactions between camp members."
The authors looked at two types of food-sharing data. Firstly, details of actual food-sharing from six Agta camps were examined to explore whether differences in camp stability predicted patterns of food-sharing. Secondly, games were also conducted in which individuals were asked to distribute resources between themselves and other camp-mates. These games were conducted with 324 Agta over 18 separate camps.
In one of the games, participants were shown their own picture, along with other randomly selected adults from camp. They were then given a number of small wooden tokens, each representing 125g rice, equal to the number of camp-mates' photos. Not every picture including the subject's could end up with rice on it, introducing a social dilemma regarding whether to share, as it would be impossible for everyone to receive rice. Participants then decided, token by token, whether to keep the rice for themselves, or to give to a camp-mate.
The results showed that, firstly, stable camps were more likely to display reciprocity in the actual food-sharing analyses. Patterns of food-sharing in unstable camps were not reciprocal, consistent with demand sharing, whereby individuals take resources from others rather than being given them. Secondly, individuals from more stable camps were increasingly likely to give resources to others and less likely to take resources in the games.
Despite differences in cooperation, individuals from both stable and unstable camps received resources from others. This distribution of resources among camp-mates is crucial for hunter-gatherers' survival. As foraging success is variable it is likely that, on any given day, an individual may return to camp with no resources. Food-sharing is therefore essential to reduce the likelihood of individuals going without resources for extended lengths of time.
Last author, Professor Ruth Mace (UCL Anthropology), added: "Food sharing and cooperation are at the centre of hunter-gatherers lifestyle. No other Apes share food or cooperate to the extent that humans do. A complex network of sharing and cooperation exists within camps and between camps in different hunter-gatherer groups, regulated by social rules, friendship ties, food taboos, kinship and supernatural beliefs. Sharing is a crucial adaptation to hunter-gatherers' lifestyles, central to their resilience -- and central to the evolution of humankind."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For me, some takeaways are:
1.) Humans are prone to ingroup bias. No surprise there.
2.) Group stability (fewer changes in membership over time) is important to encouraging a reciprocal sharing of resources.
3.) Proximity and repeated interactions encourage a reciprocal sharing of resources.
4.) Where there is greater group instability (newer faces, more differences, less familiarity), people are less inclined to share and more inclined to take what they need--needless to say, this could cause fighting, resentment, create social instability and inequality.
5.) As far as a modern day implication and application, all of the above reasons are why I believe that ideally, more ethnically/racially/religiously/socially homogeneous communities are better served by a slower, more gradual, measured infusion of "outsiders" over time and that true integration, garnered in part by "proximity and repeated interactions," is crucial.
"Camp stability predicts patterns of hunter–gatherer cooperation"
Date: July 13, 2016
Source:University College London - UCL
Reciprocal food-sharing is more prevalent in stable hunter-gatherer camps, shows new UCL research that sheds light on the evolutionary roots of human cooperation.
The research explores patterns of food-sharing among the Agta, a population of Filipino hunter-gatherers. It finds that reciprocal food-sharing is more prevalent in stable camps (with fewer changes in membership over time); while in less stable camps individuals acquire resources by taking from others -- known as 'demand sharing'.
Exploring social dynamics in the last remaining groups of present day hunter-gatherers is essential for understanding the factors that shaped the evolution of our widespread cooperation, especially with non-kin.
The study, published in the Royal Society journal Open Science, is the first to report a real-world association between patterns of cooperation and group stability.
First author of the study, Daniel Smith (UCL Anthropology), said: "Cooperation between unrelated individuals is rare in animals, yet extensive among humans. Reciprocity -- the principle of "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" -- may explain this non-kin cooperation, yet requires stable groups and repeated interactions to evolve.
"Our research shows that hunter-gatherer cooperation is extremely flexible -- reflecting either reciprocity or demand sharing depending on the frequency of repeated interactions between camp members."
The authors looked at two types of food-sharing data. Firstly, details of actual food-sharing from six Agta camps were examined to explore whether differences in camp stability predicted patterns of food-sharing. Secondly, games were also conducted in which individuals were asked to distribute resources between themselves and other camp-mates. These games were conducted with 324 Agta over 18 separate camps.
In one of the games, participants were shown their own picture, along with other randomly selected adults from camp. They were then given a number of small wooden tokens, each representing 125g rice, equal to the number of camp-mates' photos. Not every picture including the subject's could end up with rice on it, introducing a social dilemma regarding whether to share, as it would be impossible for everyone to receive rice. Participants then decided, token by token, whether to keep the rice for themselves, or to give to a camp-mate.
The results showed that, firstly, stable camps were more likely to display reciprocity in the actual food-sharing analyses. Patterns of food-sharing in unstable camps were not reciprocal, consistent with demand sharing, whereby individuals take resources from others rather than being given them. Secondly, individuals from more stable camps were increasingly likely to give resources to others and less likely to take resources in the games.
Despite differences in cooperation, individuals from both stable and unstable camps received resources from others. This distribution of resources among camp-mates is crucial for hunter-gatherers' survival. As foraging success is variable it is likely that, on any given day, an individual may return to camp with no resources. Food-sharing is therefore essential to reduce the likelihood of individuals going without resources for extended lengths of time.
Last author, Professor Ruth Mace (UCL Anthropology), added: "Food sharing and cooperation are at the centre of hunter-gatherers lifestyle. No other Apes share food or cooperate to the extent that humans do. A complex network of sharing and cooperation exists within camps and between camps in different hunter-gatherer groups, regulated by social rules, friendship ties, food taboos, kinship and supernatural beliefs. Sharing is a crucial adaptation to hunter-gatherers' lifestyles, central to their resilience -- and central to the evolution of humankind."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For me, some takeaways are:
1.) Humans are prone to ingroup bias. No surprise there.
2.) Group stability (fewer changes in membership over time) is important to encouraging a reciprocal sharing of resources.
3.) Proximity and repeated interactions encourage a reciprocal sharing of resources.
4.) Where there is greater group instability (newer faces, more differences, less familiarity), people are less inclined to share and more inclined to take what they need--needless to say, this could cause fighting, resentment, create social instability and inequality.
5.) As far as a modern day implication and application, all of the above reasons are why I believe that ideally, more ethnically/racially/religiously/socially homogeneous communities are better served by a slower, more gradual, measured infusion of "outsiders" over time and that true integration, garnered in part by "proximity and repeated interactions," is crucial.
a.) Integration is aided by the sharing of certain traits, qualities, values, etc.... The article doesn't specify which traits (adhering to the same social rules, friendship ties, supernatural beliefs, etc...) are more valued or have a "higher currency" in regards to forming stronger and more cohesive group stability but theoretically, possessing any of the traits could be enough to "overpower," "pardon" or "make up for" the lack of another trait. Ex: If everyone follows the same social rules--two of which might be to not steal or murder--than what someone looks like, where they come from, or what they believe in may become irrelevant in the eyes of the "ingroup." Or if an outsider is befriended or married, whether they follow all the social rules or not may not matter as much.
6.) This study could also be used to justify why humanity may be better served by staying in our own corners, amongst ourselves, with people we identify with for whatever reasons, and limiting exposure to outside things that disrupt group stability.