Theoretical and empirical investigation of linkages between altruism, sanction, parochialism, outgroup agression

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H01077
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 10010:Social psychology-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Takahashi Nobuyuki 北海道大学, 文学研究院, 教授 (80333582)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 協力 / 利他性 / サンクション / 偏狭さ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Homo Sapience is the only species that can attain large-scale cooperation. Although what aspects of Homo Sapience contribute to the maintenance of mutual cooperation has been studied extensively in various disciplines, from humanities to biology, however, there has been no clear answer. The current study focuses on the “strong reciprocity hypothesis,” considered one of the most popular theories, and examines its empirical validity. This hypothesis argues that there is a strong linkage between cooperation, punishment, parochialism, and outgroup aggression. The current study examined the relationship between these behaviors by conducting laboratory and online experiments. The results showed that cooperation has little or no relationship between the other three behaviors. These results are counter-evidence to the strong reciprocity hypothesis.

Free Research Field

社会科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

強い互恵性仮説によれば、他者に協力し、非協力者に罰を与え、かつ外集団を攻撃するのが人間の本質であるということになる。もしこれが真実だとすれば、社会科学全般において非常に大きな意味を持つことは言を俟たない。人間の本質的利他性と戦争は不可分であるということを意味するからである。このことは、戦争の正当化につながるばかりでなく、戦争のない世界の実現は極めて困難であることを含意する。従って、本研究は人間の本質に迫るという意味で自然科学及び人文学における最重要課題を扱うと同時に、社会科学全般においても、今まさに必要とされる研究と言える。