Despite extensive work on the evolution of cooperation, the roles of teaching and leadership in transmitting opaque cultural norms—foundations of cooperative behaviors—are underexplored. Similarly, while teaching is well-studied in the evolution of instrumental culture, little attention is given to its role in transmitting opaque culture, such as social values and norms. Transmitting opaque culture often requires teaching, and group leaders are well-positioned to facilitate this process. Using comparative ethnographic data, we explore teaching, leadership, and instrumental versus opaque culture by examining whether opaque culture is primarily transmitted via teaching, which age groups tend to learn these norms, and whether leaders are disproportionately involved in teaching. Drawing on ethnographic data from 23 egalitarian foraging societies, we find teaching is more strongly associated with transmitting cultural values and kinship knowledge than subsistence skills and is closely linked to opaque culture and leadership. Leader-directed teaching may drive cooperation, suggesting new research avenues. Teaching and leadership are under-studied in connection with the opaque norms that underpin cooperation. The authors show that among egalitarian foragers, influential individuals often pass on these norms, hinting at a possible relationship between leadership and cooperative teaching.
People are keen to exploit cooperative artificial agents for selfish gain. While this phenomenon has been observed in numerous Western societies, we show here that it is absent in Japan. We examined people’s willingness to cooperate with artificial agents and humans in two classic economic games requiring a choice between self interest and mutual benefit. Our participants in the United States cooperated with artificial agents significantly less than they did with humans, whereas participants in Japan exhibited equivalent levels of cooperation with both types of co-player. We found a notable difference in how people felt about exploiting their cooperative partner: people in Japan emotionally treated artificial agents and humans alike, whereas people in the United States felt bad about exploiting humans, but not machines. Our findings underscore the necessity for nuanced cultural considerations in the design and implementation of such technology across diverse societies
Cooperation, the process through which individuals work together to achieve common goals, is fundamental to human and animal societies and increasingly critical in artificial intelligence. Here, we investigated cooperation in mice and artificial intelligence systems, examining how they learn to actively coordinate their actions to obtain shared rewards. We identified key social behavioral strategies and decision-making processes in mice that facilitate successful cooperation. These processes are represented in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and ACC activity causally contributes to cooperative behavior. We extended our findings to artificial intelligence systems by training artificial agents in a similar cooperation task. The agents developed behavioral strategies and neural representations reminiscent of those observed in the biological brain, revealing parallels between cooperative behavior in biological and artificial systems.
Kavindu Warnakulasuriya, P. Dissanayake, Navindu De Silva
et al.
The evolution of cooperation has been extensively studied using abstract mathematical models and simulations. Recent advances in Large Language Models (LLMs) and the rise of LLM agents have demonstrated their ability to perform social reasoning, thus providing an opportunity to test the emergence of norms in more realistic agent-based simulations with human-like reasoning using natural language. In this research, we investigate whether the cooperation dynamics presented in Boyd and Richerson's model persist in a more realistic simulation of the Diner's Dilemma using LLM agents compared to the abstract mathematical nature in the work of Boyd and Richerson. Our findings indicate that agents follow the strategies defined in the Boyd and Richerson model, and explicit punishment mechanisms drive norm emergence, reinforcing cooperative behaviour even when the agent strategy configuration varies. Our results suggest that LLM-based Multi-Agent System simulations, in fact, can replicate the evolution of cooperation predicted by the traditional mathematical models. Moreover, our simulations extend beyond the mathematical models by integrating natural language-driven reasoning and a pairwise imitation method for strategy adoption, making them a more realistic testbed for cooperative behaviour in MASs.
Hasrat Efendi Samosir, Md Noor Bin Hussin, Sudianto
et al.
This study explores the Constitution of Medina as an early model of prophetic political communication grounded in consensus, offering a relevant framework for managing diversity and fostering social cohesion in pluralistic societies. Utilizing a qualitative library research method, the study draws upon the primary source—the text of the Constitution of Medina—and integrates secondary literature from the field of political communication. The data were analyzed through content analysis to identify underlying communicative principles and political strategies within the Charter. The findings reveal that the Constitution operationalizes participatory dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms, aligning closely with contemporary consensus-based political communication theories. These principles served not only to manage inter-group tensions but also to build a cooperative and just social order. The study concludes that the Constitution of Medina is not merely a historical document but a normative model that offers practical insights into inclusive governance, interfaith cooperation, and the ethical foundations of political discourse. Its relevance is especially significant today, where polarized societies seek coexistence and constructive engagement frameworks. Thus, the Medina Charter is relevant as a prophetic guide for inclusive political communication in multicultural and multireligious contexts. This study contributes to Islamic political thought and communication by providing a normative and historically grounded model for inclusive governance. It bridges classical Islamic sources with contemporary political communication theory, offering a framework applicable to modern pluralistic societies seeking ethical and participatory governance models.
As artificial intelligence (AI) systems are increasingly embedded in our lives, their presence leads to interactions that shape our behaviour, decision-making and social interactions. Existing theoretical research on the emergence and stability of cooperation, particularly in the context of social dilemmas, has primarily focused on human-to-human interactions, overlooking the unique dynamics triggered by the presence of AI. Resorting to methods from evolutionary game theory, we study how different forms of AI can influence cooperation in a population of human-like agents playing the one-shot Prisoner’s dilemma game. We found that Samaritan AI agents who help everyone unconditionally, including defectors, can promote higher levels of cooperation in humans than Discriminatory AI that only helps those considered worthy/cooperative, especially in slow-moving societies where change based on payoff difference is moderate (small intensities of selection). Only in fast-moving societies (high intensities of selection), Discriminatory AIs promote higher levels of cooperation than Samaritan AIs. Furthermore, when it is possible to identify whether a co-player is a human or an AI, we found that cooperation is enhanced when human-like agents disregard AI performance. Our findings provide novel insights into the design and implementation of context-dependent AI systems for addressing social dilemmas.
Play is generally considered an immature affair. However, adult play is present in several mammal species living in complex social systems. Here, I hypothesize that adult social play is favored by natural selection in those species characterized by high level of social tolerance and/or by the need of others' cooperation to reach a goal (i.e., leverage). The integration and comparison of bio-behavioral data on non-human primates and wild social carnivores allows drawing a comprehensive picture on the importance of adult play in facing unpredictable, novel social situations and in overcoming stressful experiences. The ability to cope with potentially competitive interactions through play can favor the emergence of egalitarian societies. A further interesting and beneficial aspect of adult play is its role in synchronizing group activities and favoring collective decision making by renovating the motivation to cooperate in groupmates. As a last step, some considerations about the presence of adult play in the most egalitarian and cooperative human groups (e.g., hunter-gatherer societies) allows discussing the apparent dichotomy between cultural and biological evolution of certain behavioral traits, including social play in adulthood.
The worsening socioeconomic situation of the country has threatened the socioeconomic development of rural communities, necessitating a socioeconomic alternative that will be responsive to rural needs and stimulate sustainable socioeconomic growth. Cooperative societies are alternative strategies that can foster socioeconomic growth at rural levels, thus building on the spirit of cooperation that is domiciled in the rural areas. Cooperative society is a voluntary association of individuals who come together to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations. These societies are based on the principles of self-help, democracy, self-responsibility, equality, equity and solidarity. If effectively utilized, cooperatives are vehicles that can bring about sustainable socio-economic development in rural communities especially in times of worsening economic situations. This paper explores cooperative societies as a vehicle that can bring about the needed socioeconomic development in rural areas through, creation of jobs, raising capital for business and alleviation of poverty. The paper adopts the sustainable development theory as its theoretical underpinning. The study found that cooperatives are instrumental in the sustainability of livelihood in rural communities through the provision of credit facilities, assisting small businesses to stay profitable, creation of employment etc. The paper recommends rural dwellers should be adequately sensitized on the importance of cooperatives and should be encouraged to associate with cooperatives so as to derive benefits of cooperatives which can in turn bring about sustainable development.
Abstract Addressing collective issues in social development requires a high level of social cohesion, characterized by cooperation and close social connections. However, social cohesion is challenged by selfish, greedy individuals. With the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), the dynamics of human–machine hybrid interactions introduce new complexities in fostering social cohesion. This study explores the impact of simple bots on social cohesion from the perspective of human–machine hybrid populations within network. By investigating collective self-organizing movement during migration, results indicate that cooperative bots can promote cooperation, facilitate individual aggregation, and thereby enhance social cohesion. The random exploration movement of bots can break the frozen state of greedy population, help to separate defectors in cooperative clusters, and promote the establishment of cooperative clusters. However, the presence of defective bots can weaken social cohesion, underscoring the importance of carefully designing bot behavior. Our research reveals the potential of bots in guiding social self-organization and provides insights for enhancing social cohesion in the era of human–machine interaction within social networks.
Summary In cooperative societies, group members typically exchange different commodities among each other, which involves an incessant negotiation process. How is the conflict of fitness interests resolved in this continual bargaining process between unequal partners, so that maintaining the cooperative interaction is the best option for all parties involved? Theory predicts that relatedness between group members may alleviate the conflict of fitness interests, thereby promoting the evolution of cooperation. To evaluate the relative importance of relatedness and direct fitness effects in the negotiation process, we experimentally manipulated both the relatedness and mutual behavioral responses of dominant breeders and subordinate helpers in the cooperatively breeding cichlid fish Neolamprologus pulcher. Results show that coercion by breeders is crucial for the performance of alloparental egg care by helpers, but that kinship significantly decreases the need for coercion as predicted by theory. This illustrates the relative importance of kinship and enforcement in the bargaining process.
Till Weber, Jonathan F. Schulz, Benjamin Beranek
et al.
IZA DP No. 16415 AUGUST 2023 The Behavioral Mechanisms of Voluntary Cooperation across Culturally Diverse Societies: Evidence from the US, the UK, Morocco, and Turkey We examine the role of cooperative preferences, beliefs, and punishments to uncover potential cross-societal differences in voluntary cooperation. Using one-shot public goods experiments in four comparable subject pools from the US and the UK (two similar Western societies) and Morocco and Turkey (two comparable non-Western societies), we find that cooperation is lower in Morocco and Turkey than in the UK and the US. Using the ABC approach – in which cooperative attitudes and beliefs explain cooperation – we show that cooperation is mostly driven by differences in beliefs rather than cooperative preferences or peer punishment, both of which are similar across the four subject pools. Our methodology is generalizable across subject pools and highlights the central role of beliefs in explaining differences in voluntary cooperation within and across culturally, economically, and institutionally diverse societies. Because our behavioral mechanisms correctly predict actual contributions, we argue that our approach provides a suitable methodology for analyzing the determinants of voluntary cooperation of any group of interest. JEL Classification: C9, H4, C7, D2
Social capital is one of the influential components in the performance and success of cooperatives, including rural cooperatives, which is considered by experts. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of social capital in the success of the rural cooperative in Dana women. The method of this research is descriptive-analytic and a questionnaire technique is used to collect information. The statistical population is 600 members of the rural women's rural cooperative in Dena County, according to Bartlett's table, 100 were identified. The questionnaire was the most important tool for collecting data. The results of the questionnaire were analyzed using Spss software. To test the hypothesis, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient was used. In order to investigate the role of social capital in the success of rural women's cooperatives in Dena, indicators such as social capital, social trust, and social participation were measured. Based on the results obtained from the indicators of social capital research, social trust index the impact on the success of the DENA Women's Co-operative.
Context and purpose. The aim of this study was to find factors affecting the training courses' effectiveness on handmade-carpet cooperatives in Zanjan Province of Iran, the research's type was an applied study in terms of aim and surveying study in terms of data collection.
Methodology/approach. Data collection tool was a researcher made questionnaire. The study population included all members of Handmade-Carpet cooperative of Zanjan province. The number of all Handmade-Carpet cooperatives was 38 including 366 members. Of those members 181 people were selected as the samples through Morgans' sampling table. A proportionate selection method was used to select the fit samples from each cooperative. The validity of the questions was done by experts' views and recommendations. The reliability of the questions was tested through Alpha's test (alpha =0.874 to 0.909).
Findings and conclusions. After gathering data, SPSS software was used to analyze and describe the data. In descriptive part, both frequency tables and central statistics such as mean, median and mode as well as discrepancy statistics such as standard deviation and coefficient of variation were used. In analytical part, correlation and regression analysis methods and Mann-Whitenny and Kruskal- Wallis tests were used. The correlation's results showed that there was a significant relationship between variables attendance into training courses, income's amount from the cooperatives, the level of content relevancy, the level of objectives relevancy, the level of educators' knowledge, the level of training methods relevancy and the the effectiveness of the training courses. In addition, the results of regression analysis by a stepwise method revealed that the variables the level of objectives relevancy, income's amount from the cooperatives, and the level of educators' knowledge were determined 81.6 percent of dependent variable (the training courses' effectiveness).
Originality. Iranian hand-woven carpets have a special place in the economy, now considering the essential role of cooperatives in strengthening Iranian hand-woven carpets, this research examines the important factors affecting the educational effectiveness of these cooperatives.
Background and objective. There is currently a strong desire to understand the nature of governance to improve public sector performance, as governance is a critical necessity to help governments realize their development agendas. For example, in recent years in Iran, the approach of good governance has been mentioned as a necessity for economic development in the country.Methodology/approach. The current research is an mixed method study. In the qualitative part, 11 experts familiar with the subject were interviewed to reach theoretical saturation. In the quantitative section, the views of 70 managers and experts of the Ministry of Cooperation, Labor and Social Welfare were used. Data analysis was done in the qualitative part using grounded theory and in the quantitative part using the partial least squares method.Findings and Conclusion. The research findings showed that organizational accountability and the fight against rent and corruption affect the implementation of good governance. The research findings showed that organizational responsibility and combating rent and corruption affect the implementation of good governance. The organization should be responsible to civil society from different aspects. In fact, the organization must be responsive in in terms of the rule of law, transparency, client demands, and its economic and functional areasOriginality/innovation. In this study, for theoretical synergy, an integrated and executive model was presented for good governance in the context of strategic communication in the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare. This is despite the fact that previous studies dealt with these concepts separately.
Human cooperation varies both across and within societies, and developmental studies can inform our understanding of the sources of both kinds of variation. One key candidate for explaining within-society variation in cooperative behaviour is gender, but we know little about whether gender differences in cooperation take root early in ontogeny or emerge similarly across diverse societies. Here, we explore two existing cross-cultural datasets of 4- to 15-year-old children's preferences for equality in experimental tasks measuring prosociality (14 societies) and fairness (seven societies), and we look for evidence of (i) widespread gender differences in the development of cooperation, and (ii) substantial societal variation in gender differences. This cross-cultural approach is crucial for revealing universal human gender differences in the development of cooperation, and it helps answer recent calls for greater cultural diversity in the study of human development. We find that gender has little impact on the development of prosociality and fairness within these datasets, and we do not find much evidence for substantial societal variation in gender differences. We discuss the implications of these findings for our knowledge about the nature and origin of gender differences in cooperation, and for future research attempting to study human development using diverse cultural samples. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Cooperation among women: evolutionary and cross-cultural perspectives’.
Abstract In these times of distress, self-reliant villages and sustainable development are more crucial than ever. Support is much needed to uplift durably impoverished communities. Rural electrification has been recognized as playing a key role in helping poverty-stricken rural regions to develop sustainable livelihoods. Yet, despite several plans initiated by governments, rural electrification alone has fallen short in providing sustainable solutions for the development of rural areas. In this paper, a multidisciplinary approach is prescribed. A framework to achieve sustainable development is presented where microfinancing, social cooperation, and Self-Help-Groups, stimulate entrepreneurship, and where cost effective solar + battery electricity solutions support local initiatives. Microgrid simulations based on field data show in what proportion autonomous microgrids are more cost effective when rural businesses, workshops, schools, or GSM towers, (i.e. anchor customers) complement households’ loads. Experience shows that this is also a critical factor of sustainability. Therefore, rural development and electrification campaigns would benefit from the cooperative association among anchor customers, Self-Help-Groups, and microfinancing. These findings can support policy makers, government, and regulators for the development of successful rural electrification campaigns.
An important and fundamental issue in the field of dairy products marketing is to have a positive consumer image of the brand. Brand image is an important factor in deciding the consumer to choose from goods and shows their general knowledge about a particular brand. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of internal marketing on brand image through social responsibility mediation. The type of research was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-correlational in terms of the nature of the method. The statistical population of the study included consumers of dairy products Ardebil city. Based on Morgan's table, a sample of 384 were selected by available random sampling method to answer the questionnaire, which finally 380 of the questionnaire could be used. The results of structural equation modeling test using PLS software showed that internal marketing has a significant effect on brand image and social responsibility. Social responsibility also has a direct impact on the brand image and social responsibility plays a mediating role in the relationship between internal marketing and brand image.The findings of this study can be effective in attracting more and more dairy products manufacturing companies to the discussion of social responsibility and strengthen the desired mental image of the brand of companies.
Significance In a study including 17 societies, we found that people are motivated to trust and cooperate more with their ingroup, than harm the outgroup. Reputation-based indirect reciprocity may offset this ingroup favoritism, because we found that reputational concern universally increases cooperation with both ingroup and outgroup members. We also found that people who are dispositionally cooperative are less parochial and more universal in their cooperation. In a time of increasing parochialism in both domestic and international relations, our findings affirm us of the danger of the strong human universal toward parochial altruism. Yet, our findings suggest that in all societies, there exist people whose cooperation transcends group boundaries and provides a solution to combating parochialism: reputation-based indirect reciprocity. International challenges such as climate change, poverty, and intergroup conflict require countries to cooperate to solve these complex problems. However, the political tide in many countries has shifted inward, with skepticism and reluctance to cooperate with other countries. Thus, cross-societal investigations are needed to test theory about trust and cooperation within and between groups. We conducted an experimental study in 17 countries designed to test several theories that explain why, who, and where people trust and cooperate more with ingroup members, compared with outgroup members. The experiment involved several interactions in the trust game, either as a trustor or trustee. We manipulated partner group membership in the trust game (ingroup, outgroup, or unknown) and if their reputation was at stake during the interaction. In addition to the standard finding that participants trust and cooperate more with ingroup than outgroup members, we obtained findings that reputational concerns play a decisive role for promoting trust and cooperation universally across societies. Furthermore, men discriminated more in favor of their ingroup than women. Individual differences in cooperative preferences, as measured by social value orientation, predicted cooperation with both ingroup and outgroup members. Finally, we did not find support for three theories about the cross-societal conditions that influence the degree of ingroup favoritism observed across societies (e.g., material security, religiosity, and pathogen stress). We discuss the implications for promoting cooperation within and between countries.
Understanding the dynamics of cooperative behavior of individuals in complex societies represents a fundamental research question which puzzles scientists working in heterogeneous fields. Many studies have been developed using the unitary agent assumption, which embeds the idea that when making decisions, individuals share the same socio-cultural parameters. In this paper, we propose the ECHO-EGN model, based on Evolutionary Game Theory, which relaxes this strong assumption by considering the heterogeneity of three fundamental socio-cultural aspects ruling the behavior of groups of people: the propensity to be more cooperative with members of the same group (Endogamic cooperation), the propensity to cooperate with the public domain (Civicness) and the propensity to prefer connections with members of the same group (Homophily). The ECHO-EGN model is shown to have high performance in describing real world behavior of interacting individuals living in complex environments. Extensive numerical experiments allowing the comparison of real data and model simulations confirmed that the introduction of the above mechanisms enhances the realism in the modelling of cooperation dynamics. Additionally, theoretical findings allow us to conclude that endogamic cooperation may limit significantly the emergence of cooperation.