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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
How Altruism Can Prevail In An Evolutionary Environment, Ted Bergstrom, Oded Stark
How Altruism Can Prevail In An Evolutionary Environment, Ted Bergstrom, Oded Stark
Ted C Bergstrom
This paper considers a series of examples in which evolution supports cooperative behavior in single-shot prisoners' dilemma. Examples include genetic inheritance for asexual siblings and for sexual diploid siblings. We also study two models of ``cultural inheritance''; one in which siblings copy either their parents or an extrafamilial role model and one in which neighbors arrayed along a circular road copy successful neighbors. Finally, we consider a model in which parents choose their behavior, realizing that it may be imitated by their children. A unifying principle of these models is that cooperative behavior more is likely to be sustained in …
Courtship As A Waiting Game, Ted Bergstrom, Mark Bagnoli
Courtship As A Waiting Game, Ted Bergstrom, Mark Bagnoli
Ted C Bergstrom
In most times and places, women on average, marry older men. We suggest a partial explanation. If the economic roles of males are more specialized than those of females, the desirability of a female as a mate may become evident at an earlier age than is the case for males. Males with good prospects will wait until their economic success is revealed before choosing a bride. Those with poor prospects try to marry young. In equilibrium, the most desirable young females choose successful older males. The less desirable young females have no better option than to marry available young males.