Group living evolves by suppressing self-interest into obligated interdependence

Evidence

One of the primary purposes of group living is to promote efficient use of the surrounding environment by suppressing individual self-interest in favor of group-level outcomes (Caporael, 1997). If each individual seeks to maximize outcomes and resource just for the self, the environment would suffer and eventually so would the individual. But by combining efforts across multiple individuals, the group is able to take better advantage of available resources. Caporael (1997) asserts that as a result of group living, a system of obligated interdependence develops, in which individuals depend on the group and other group members to provide necessary resources, reproductive mates, and other services not achievable at the individual level, such as security and protection. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 905

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 905
• XREF: connects to: Healthy living systems circulate collaborative intelligence that fails when beings see themselves as superior. — Rebecca A. Martusewicz, Jeff Edmundson, and John Lupinacci, EcoJustice Education: Toward Diverse,…, 1763; Individual generosity and collective survival are not opposed in evolution — Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom,…, 66