Description
Cooperation has long been recognised as an evolutionary paradox, as helping others seems counterintuitive to the competitive nature of Darwinian selection. This apparent contradiction has led to extensive research into the conditions that enable and maintain cooperative behaviour, particularly in dyadic interactions. However, cooperation often occurs beyond pairs, with benefits that can extend to entire social groups. Despite this, little attention has been given to the question of how individual cooperation contributes to the stability of group living. This talk seeks to explore that often-overlooked perspective by considering how cooperative behaviour might help maintain the cohesion and endurance of animal groups. Based on a literature review of both empirical studies and theoretical work, we examine how cooperative behaviours, such as mutualisms, reciprocity, task specialisation and punishment, can influence group stability. These dynamics may give rise to social structures that reduce conflict and promote harmony, suggesting that individual cooperation might play a crucial but underappreciated role in group cohesion. By combining insights from cooperation theory with empirical research on social evolution, we propose that a more integrative approach may offer a more comprehensive understanding of how cooperative behaviour and group living coevolve.| Period | 18 Jul 2025 → 20 Jul 2025 |
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| Event title | Diverse Intelligences Summit |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | St Andrews, United KingdomShow on map |