Enhanced recognition of defectors depends on their rarity

Cognition
Pat Barclay

Abstract

Evolutionary psychologists have proposed that humans possess cognitive mechanisms for social exchange, but have perhaps focused overmuch on "cheating", because avoiding exploitation in reciprocal exchange could be accomplished either by avoidance of defectors or by attraction to cooperators. Past studies that have claimed to support the existence of a "cheater-detection module" by finding enhanced memory for the faces of "cheaters" have mostly relied on verbal descriptions, and these are prone to bias if the degree of cheating is unintentionally more severe than the degree of cooperation. Given that populations differ in the prevalence of defectors, it is most effective to remember whatever type is rare rather than always focus on cheaters. In the present experiment, participants played a computerized trust game and saw faces of cooperators and defectors in 20%/80%, 50%/50%, or 80%/20% ratios. Consistent with predictions, defectors were remembered best when rare but worst when common, supporting the existence of slightly more general cognitive mechanisms rather than specific cheater-recognition mechanisms.

References

Mar 27, 1981·Science·R Axelrod, W D Hamilton
May 8, 2000·Science·C Wedekind, M Milinski
Jan 10, 2002·Cell Biology International·Katherine L B BarrettKaren S Katula
Nov 14, 2003·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Gilbert Roberts, James S Renwick
Mar 31, 2004·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Ernst Fehr, Urs Fischbacher
Jul 19, 2005·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Lisa M DeBruine
Dec 24, 2005·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Joseph HenrichDavid Tracer
Jan 27, 2007·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Pat Barclay, Robb Willer
Mar 1, 1995·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·R R Hunt

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 5, 2010·PloS One·Fatima Maria Felisberti, Louisa Pavey
May 12, 2011·PloS One·Jenny VolstorfJeffrey R Stevens
Feb 13, 2010·Journal of Theoretical Biology·A Németh, K Takács
Jun 17, 2015·Social Neuroscience·Gabriel Gaudencio RêgoPaulo Sérgio Boggio
Aug 10, 2012·Cognition·Nicholas O RuleNalini Ambady
Jun 9, 2014·Cognition·Raoul BellGerald Echterhoff
Mar 13, 2014·Psychological Research·Katia MattarozziMaurizio Codispoti
May 20, 2014·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Meike KroneisenLeonie Sophie Rausch
May 25, 2016·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Peter Mende-Siedlecki, Alexander Todorov
Dec 19, 2013·I-Perception·Fatima M Felisberti, Mark R McDermott
Jul 29, 2017·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Meike Kroneisen
Aug 21, 2019·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Xianwei MengKatsumi Watanabe
Mar 27, 2021·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Meike KroneisenMaren Mayer
Apr 18, 2021·Cognitive Processing·Xianwei MengKatsumi Watanabe
May 6, 2021·Brain Sciences·Cinzia GiorgettaAlan G Sanfey

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.