General-purpose cooperativeness and altruism in humans: elements of the mathematical framework for the Interdependence Hypothesis

Abstract

We propose a decision-making model for joint intentionality by interpreting it as group-mindedness at the microlevel. We apply this model to give a formal justification of the first part of the Interdependence Hypothesis due to Tomasello et al. [Current Anthropology, 2012] which asserts that the emergence of joint intentionality evolved due to the challenges of difficult collaborative foraging practices among early humans, and that its evolution led to robust collaboration and some form of altruism. In another application of the microlevel group-mindedness we consider the problem of establishing cooperation in high-risk-of-defection strategic conflicts and we show that the emergence of cooperation in such situations can be explained in the context of cultural group selection as the result of adaptive learning.