Prosocial behaviour

Humans are, of course, unusually prosocial in comparison to other animals, and the evolution of human prosocial behavior has become an acrimonious and controversy-filled area of research in human evolutionary ecology. In spite of this, we use models and behavioral experiments to enter the fray from time to time. We focus in particular on questions related to partner choice, evolved ancestral psychologies based on reputational mechanisms, and selection at the group level. Relevant experimental work with Bolivian farmers, WEIRD subjects in several countries, and Swiss children.