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Identity fusion and fitness interdependence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 December 2018

Lee Cronk
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901; Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287. lcronk@anthropology.rutgers.edu  aktipis@asu.eduhttps://anthro.rutgers.edupeople/department-undergrad-a-grad-faculty/89-lee-cronkhttp://www.athenaaktipis.org
Athena Aktipis
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901; Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287. lcronk@anthropology.rutgers.edu  aktipis@asu.eduhttps://anthro.rutgers.edupeople/department-undergrad-a-grad-faculty/89-lee-cronkhttp://www.athenaaktipis.org

Abstract

Fitness interdependence is the degree to which two or more organisms influence each other's success in replicating their genes. Identity fusion may be a proximate mechanism that aligns behavior with fitness interdependence. Although identity fusion may usually lead to behaviors that are fitness enhancing, in evolutionarily novel environments, it may be hijacked in ways that are highly detrimental to fitness.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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