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Special human vulnerability to low-cost collective punishment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2012

Don Ross
Don Ross
Affiliation:
University of Cape Town, School of Economics, University of Cape Town, Private bag, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa. don.ross@uct.ac.zahttp://uct.academia.edu/DonRoss
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Abstract

Guala notes that low-cost punishment is the main mechanism that deters free-riding in small human communities. This mechanism is complemented by unusual human vulnerability to gossip. Defenders of an evolutionary discontinuity supporting human sociality might seize on this as an alternative to enjoyment of moralistic aggression as a special adaptation. However, the more basic adaptation of language likely suffices.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , February 2012 , pp. 37 - 38
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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