Cultural evolution can lock groups into maladaptive equilibria, not just prosocial ones

Evidence

Herrmann et al. (2008) demonstrate, in cross-cultural game experiments, the existence in some cultures, such as Turkey, Greece, and Saudi Arabia, of what they call “antisocial punishment,” where cooperators, not freeriders, are punished! Antisocial punishment is rare in Western societies, and without cross-cultural comparisons, would have been missed. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 831 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Some cultures punish cooperators rather than freeriders in economic games — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 831; Only humans achieved ultra-sociality within the last 12,000 years; Evolutionary and neurological accounts cannot fully explain cultural patterns — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 807 (+2 more)

Related

• Some cultures punish cooperators rather than freeriders in economic games (similarity 0.90)
• In some non-Western societies cooperators rather than freeriders get punished (similarity 0.90)
• Cultural evolution can spread maladaptive behaviors that destroy social cooperation (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Some cultures punish cooperators rather than freeriders in economic games #exemplifies (0.92) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 831