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Biological evolution and behavioral evolution: Two approaches to altruism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2013

Howard Rachlin ,
Matthew L. Locey  and
Vasiliy Safin
Howard Rachlin
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500. [email protected]://www.psychology.stonybrook.edu/psychology/index.php?people/faculty/[email protected]@gmail.com
Matthew L. Locey
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500. [email protected]://www.psychology.stonybrook.edu/psychology/index.php?people/faculty/[email protected]@gmail.com
Vasiliy Safin
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500. [email protected]://www.psychology.stonybrook.edu/psychology/index.php?people/faculty/[email protected]@gmail.com
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Abstract

Altruism may be learned (behavioral evolution) in a way similar to that proposed in the target article for its biological evolution. Altruism (over social space) corresponds to self-control (over time). In both cases, one must learn to ignore the rewards to a particular (person or moment) and behave to maximize the rewards to a group (of people or moments).

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , February 2013 , pp. 96
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013

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