合作普遍存在于动物界和人类社会。研究者在进化心理学视角下提出一系列有关合作起源和进化的机制及影响因素。合作进化机制理论主要包括亲缘选择、直接利益、互惠和文化适应等,影响因素则主要包括制度设置、群体认同、不对等地位等。未来研究可纳入社会互动、社会变迁,以及社会地位、经济地位不对等等因素来考察合作的产生和进化。
Cooperation means that selfish individuals help one another at the cost of some of their own reproductive potential. However, cooperation has been observed in several levels of biological organization and among animals and humans. From the point of view of evolutionary psychology, a series of theories was proposed to account for the evolution of cooperation, such as kin selection, direct benefits, reciprocation, and culture adaption. To avoid free riding or defection, some systems, such as communication channels and social sanctioning, need to be set. Furthermore, strong group identification could promote cooperation, while dominance hierarchy formed in selection had complex effects on cooperation. Future research could further investigate the effects of social status of an individual within a group, social interaction of individuals within a group or between groups, or changing social norms on the evolution of cooperation.