Group living forges obligated interdependence that beats individual self-maximization

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 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Under paternalism, the group basis of social life is exalted by dominants as they exhort subordinates to abide by and honor its precepts. But when that comes under challenge from subordinates, dominants move to deny the group basis of social life and the legitimacy of group-based demands. Individualism is elevated to a lofty moral principle. This renders subordinates’ new demand for equality of outcomes morally unacceptable because of its brazen disrespect for the rights of individuals (e.g., “reverse discrimination”), and political debate is rechanneled into less threatening questions about the degree to which equality of opportunity is available to all individuals (e.g., the conservative call for a “color-blind” society). The new defense of the status quo manipulates the idealistic goal of equal treatment espoused by Allport, Martin Luther King, Jr., and others in the 1950s. The idea of equality of opportunity only has meaning in a world in which inequality of outcomes is a given, and ironically, the latter renders the former unattainable because of the handicaps it dispenses unequally to the various competitors (Schaar, 1967). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 674 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Social behavior, from persuasion and attitude change, to interpersonal relationships, to group interactions, results not only from the intrapsychic psychological processes of isolated individuals but also from interactions among multiple individual agents over time. In fact, in many cases, collective outcomes differ drastically from what any party expects or desires. For example, in studies of bystander intervention, because all participants assume that someone else is helping, the outcome is that no one helps. In the case of the commons dilemma and other social dilemmas, when self-interested individuals overuse a resource (grazing grounds, fisheries) or use a resource without paying for it (public television), the resource may be destroyed to the detriment of all. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 817 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• 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; Group living evolves by suppressing self-interest into obligated interdependence — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 905; Humans are obligatorily interdependent because their evolved traits require group living — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 2503 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Group living evolves by suppressing self-interest into obligated interdependence #corroborates (0.95) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 905
• Dominants adopt individualism as a new defense when group-based hierarchy is challenged #complicates (0.72) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 674
• Interdependent individual actions produce collective outcomes no one deliberately chose #complicates (0.70) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 817