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Social selection is a powerful explanation for prosociality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2016

Randolph M. Nesse
Randolph M. Nesse*
Affiliation:
Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501. nesse@asu.edu http://RandolphNesse.com
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Abstract

Cultural group selection helps explain human cooperation, but social selection offers a complementary, more powerful explanation. Just as sexual selection shapes extreme traits that increase matings, social selection shapes extreme traits that make individuals preferred social partners. Self-interested partner choices create strong and possibly runaway selection for prosocial traits, without requiring group selection, kin selection, or reciprocity.

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Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 39 , 2016 , e47
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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