Perceived inequality and variability in the expression of parochial altruism
It is commonly argued that humans have generalised predispositions for within-group favouritism and between-group animus (i.e. that humans are parochially altruistic), leading to higher levels of internal conflict in societies with greater diversity. Other research, however, has questioned both the...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Evolutionary Human Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2513843X24000434/type/journal_article |
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| author | Cody T. Ross Anne C. Pisor |
| author_facet | Cody T. Ross Anne C. Pisor |
| author_sort | Cody T. Ross |
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| description | It is commonly argued that humans have generalised predispositions for within-group favouritism and between-group animus (i.e. that humans are parochially altruistic), leading to higher levels of internal conflict in societies with greater diversity. Other research, however, has questioned both the ubiquity of parochial altruism and the role of diversity per se in causing social discord. Here, we use ethnographic, social network and experimental economic game data to explore this topic in two multi-ethnic Colombian communities. We examine the extent to which Afrocolombian and Emberá residents express parochial altruism, finding appreciable variability between communities, and across individuals within communities. When present, parochial altruism appears to be driven by divergent perceptions of group-based economic need, not group identity per se. Our results suggest that diversity may be less likely to cause social discord than past work has suggested, as long as group-based inequalities in wealth, well-being and representation – that can destabilise positive inter-group relationships – are minimised. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ea262c3952f4bdb8535a712af2e3c00 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2513-843X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Evolutionary Human Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ea262c3952f4bdb8535a712af2e3c002025-01-20T11:24:56ZengCambridge University PressEvolutionary Human Sciences2513-843X2025-01-01710.1017/ehs.2024.43Perceived inequality and variability in the expression of parochial altruismCody T. Ross0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0067-4799Anne C. Pisor1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5780-4542Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Leipzig, GermanyMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Leipzig, Germany Department of Anthropology and Social Science Research Institute, The Pennyslvania State University, University Park, PA, USA Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USAIt is commonly argued that humans have generalised predispositions for within-group favouritism and between-group animus (i.e. that humans are parochially altruistic), leading to higher levels of internal conflict in societies with greater diversity. Other research, however, has questioned both the ubiquity of parochial altruism and the role of diversity per se in causing social discord. Here, we use ethnographic, social network and experimental economic game data to explore this topic in two multi-ethnic Colombian communities. We examine the extent to which Afrocolombian and Emberá residents express parochial altruism, finding appreciable variability between communities, and across individuals within communities. When present, parochial altruism appears to be driven by divergent perceptions of group-based economic need, not group identity per se. Our results suggest that diversity may be less likely to cause social discord than past work has suggested, as long as group-based inequalities in wealth, well-being and representation – that can destabilise positive inter-group relationships – are minimised.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2513843X24000434/type/journal_articleParochial altruismparochialisminter-ethnic cooperationinter-ethnic conflictsociality |
| spellingShingle | Cody T. Ross Anne C. Pisor Perceived inequality and variability in the expression of parochial altruism Evolutionary Human Sciences Parochial altruism parochialism inter-ethnic cooperation inter-ethnic conflict sociality |
| title | Perceived inequality and variability in the expression of parochial altruism |
| title_full | Perceived inequality and variability in the expression of parochial altruism |
| title_fullStr | Perceived inequality and variability in the expression of parochial altruism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceived inequality and variability in the expression of parochial altruism |
| title_short | Perceived inequality and variability in the expression of parochial altruism |
| title_sort | perceived inequality and variability in the expression of parochial altruism |
| topic | Parochial altruism parochialism inter-ethnic cooperation inter-ethnic conflict sociality |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2513843X24000434/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT codytross perceivedinequalityandvariabilityintheexpressionofparochialaltruism AT annecpisor perceivedinequalityandvariabilityintheexpressionofparochialaltruism |