
pmid: 21087808
Many recent experiments in the field of behavioural economics appear to demonstrate a willingness of humans to behave altruistically, even when it is not in their interest to do so. This has led to the assertion that humans have evolved a special predisposition towards altruism. Recent studies have questioned this, and demonstrated that selfless cooperation does not hold up in controlled experiments. As I discuss here, this calls for more economic 'field experiments' and highlights the need for greater integration of the evolutionary and economic sciences.
10127 Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, 1105 Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Games, Experimental, Economics, Humans, 570 Life sciences; biology, 590 Animals (Zoology), Cooperative Behavior, Altruism, Biological Evolution
10127 Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, 1105 Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Games, Experimental, Economics, Humans, 570 Life sciences; biology, 590 Animals (Zoology), Cooperative Behavior, Altruism, Biological Evolution
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