reciprocal altruism

a form of helping behavior that is sustained when one individual (A) helps another (B) and at some future time B helps A or A’s offspring. The requirements of reciprocal altruism are (a) that the participants are able to identify each other individually, (b) that they are able to remember past actions and who helped whom, (c) that the cost to the helper is less than the gain to the recipient, and (d) that there is a mechanism to protect against cheating. Game theory provides a theoretical system for understanding reciprocal altruism. See also altruism.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

November 18th 2024

hypoglossal nerve

the 12th cranial nerve, a motor nerve that originates in a nucleus on the floor of the fourth ventricle within the brain and innervates the muscles of the tongue, lower jaw, and areas of the neck and chest. Also called cranial nerve XII.