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Two key steps in the evolution of human cooperation: The interdependence Hypothesis

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tomasello, M; Melis, AP; Tennie, C; Wyman, E; Herrmann, E
Published in: Current Anthropology
December 1, 2012

Modern theories of the evolution of human cooperation focus mainly on altruism. In contrast, we propose that humans' species-unique forms of cooperation-as well as their species-unique forms of cognition, communication, and social life-all derive from mutualistic collaboration (with social selection against cheaters). In a first step, humans became obligate collaborative foragers such that individuals were interdependent with one another and so had a direct interest in the well-being of their partners. In this context, they evolved new skills and motivations for collaboration not possessed by other great apes (joint intentionality), and they helped their potential partners (and avoided cheaters). In a second step, these new collaborative skills and motivations were scaled up to group life in general, as modern humans faced competition from other groups. As part of this new group-mindedness, they created cultural conventions, norms, and institutions (all characterized by collective intentionality), with knowledge of a specific set of these marking individuals as members of a particular cultural group. Human cognition and sociality thus became ever more collaborative and altruistic as human individuals became ever more interdependent. © 2012 by The Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research. All rights reserved.

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Published In

Current Anthropology

DOI

ISSN

0011-3204

Publication Date

December 1, 2012

Volume

53

Issue

6

Start / End Page

673 / 692

Related Subject Headings

  • Anthropology
  • 4401 Anthropology
  • 4301 Archaeology
  • 2101 Archaeology
  • 1801 Law
  • 1601 Anthropology
 

Citation

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Tomasello, M., Melis, A. P., Tennie, C., Wyman, E., & Herrmann, E. (2012). Two key steps in the evolution of human cooperation: The interdependence Hypothesis. Current Anthropology, 53(6), 673–692. https://doi.org/10.1086/668207
Tomasello, M., A. P. Melis, C. Tennie, E. Wyman, and E. Herrmann. “Two key steps in the evolution of human cooperation: The interdependence Hypothesis.” Current Anthropology 53, no. 6 (December 1, 2012): 673–92. https://doi.org/10.1086/668207.
Tomasello M, Melis AP, Tennie C, Wyman E, Herrmann E. Two key steps in the evolution of human cooperation: The interdependence Hypothesis. Current Anthropology. 2012 Dec 1;53(6):673–92.
Tomasello, M., et al. “Two key steps in the evolution of human cooperation: The interdependence Hypothesis.” Current Anthropology, vol. 53, no. 6, Dec. 2012, pp. 673–92. Scopus, doi:10.1086/668207.
Tomasello M, Melis AP, Tennie C, Wyman E, Herrmann E. Two key steps in the evolution of human cooperation: The interdependence Hypothesis. Current Anthropology. 2012 Dec 1;53(6):673–692.
Journal cover image

Published In

Current Anthropology

DOI

ISSN

0011-3204

Publication Date

December 1, 2012

Volume

53

Issue

6

Start / End Page

673 / 692

Related Subject Headings

  • Anthropology
  • 4401 Anthropology
  • 4301 Archaeology
  • 2101 Archaeology
  • 1801 Law
  • 1601 Anthropology