title: Evolution of cooperation and altruistic punishment when retaliation is possible.
abstract: Altruistic punishment is suggested to explain observed high levels of cooperation among non-kin related humans. However, laboratory experiments as well as ethnographic evidence suggest that people might retaliate if being punished, and that this reduces the level of cooperation. Building on existing models on the evolution of cooperation and altruistic punishment, we explore the consequences of the option of retaliation. We find that cooperation and altruistic punishment does not evolve with larger population levels if the option of retaliation is included.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Center for the Study of Institutional Diversity, Arizona State University, PO Box 872402, Tempe, AZ 85287-2402, USA. Marco.Janssen@asu.edu
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Clint
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bushman
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011156:Population Density; D011678:Punishment