Cooperation requires self-regulation because its costs are immediate but its benefits are delayed

Evidence

The cost–benefit calculation described by Baumard et al. is further complicated by the fact that the costs of cooperation are often immediate, whereas the benefits are anticipated in the future. Most animals live in the present (Roberts 2002), and so the capacity to forego immediate gains for the sake of possible future benefits probably depends on the evolutionarily recent expansion of self-regulatory powers. — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality, 243

Categorization

• SHARE: Good for a psychologist or behavioral economist colleague working on delay of gratification and cooperation.
• XREF: connects to: Self-regulation explains long-term enterprise generally, not moral sense specifically. — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality: The…, 655; Egoistic motivations alone cannot sustain cooperation without plausible self-regulating structures; Fairness impulses must compete against natural selfish impulses via self-regulation — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality: The…, 242 (+1 more)

Related

• Self-regulation explains long-term enterprise generally, not moral sense specifically. (similarity 0.84)
• Fairness impulses must compete against natural selfish impulses via self-regulation (similarity 0.84)
• Self-regulation operates like a depletable willpower resource. (similarity 0.83)
• Egoistic motivations alone cannot sustain cooperation without plausible self-regulating structures (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Egoistic motivations alone cannot sustain cooperation without plausible self-regulating structures #corroborates (0.90)
• Fairness impulses must compete against natural selfish impulses via self-regulation #corroborates (0.85) — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality, 242