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Fearful apes, happy apes: Is fearfulness associated with uniquely human cooperation?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 May 2023

Christopher Riddell ,
Mariska Kret ,
Tonko Zijlstra  and
Milica Nikolic Open the ORCID record for Milica Nikolic [Opens in a new window]
Christopher Riddell
Affiliation:
Cognitive Psychology Unit, Leiden University, 2333AK Leiden, the Netherlands c.d.riddell@fsw.leidenuniv.nl; https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/chris-riddell m.e.kret@fsw.leidenuniv.nl; https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/mariska-kret t.w.zijlstra@fsw.leidenuniv.nl; https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/tonko-zijlstra
Mariska Kret
Affiliation:
Cognitive Psychology Unit, Leiden University, 2333AK Leiden, the Netherlands c.d.riddell@fsw.leidenuniv.nl; https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/chris-riddell m.e.kret@fsw.leidenuniv.nl; https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/mariska-kret t.w.zijlstra@fsw.leidenuniv.nl; https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/tonko-zijlstra
Tonko Zijlstra
Affiliation:
Cognitive Psychology Unit, Leiden University, 2333AK Leiden, the Netherlands c.d.riddell@fsw.leidenuniv.nl; https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/chris-riddell m.e.kret@fsw.leidenuniv.nl; https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/mariska-kret t.w.zijlstra@fsw.leidenuniv.nl; https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/tonko-zijlstra
Milica Nikolic
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WS Amsterdam, The Netherlands M.Nikolic@uva.nl; https://www.uva.nl/en/profile/n/i/m.nikolic/m.nikolic.html
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Abstract

In the fearful ape hypothesis, Grossmann argues that heightened fearfulness increases human-unique cooperation. We suggest that this conclusion, however, may be premature. In particular, we question Grossmann's singling out of fear as the affective trait that enhances cooperative care. Additionally, we problematize the extent to which heightened fearfulness in humans, and its association with human-unique cooperation, are supported empirically.

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Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 46 , 2023 , e76
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Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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