Directed reciprocity subverts cooperation in highly adaptive populations
Abstract We examine the generally accepted hypothesis that directed reciprocity is a powerful driver for cooperation. To do so, we consider a framework where agents situated on a circle network interact with their neighbors and have the choice to be egoistic, altruistic, or partially cooperative. We...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80408-z |
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| author | Jean-Jacques Herings Ronald Peeters Anastas P. Tenev |
| author_facet | Jean-Jacques Herings Ronald Peeters Anastas P. Tenev |
| author_sort | Jean-Jacques Herings |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We examine the generally accepted hypothesis that directed reciprocity is a powerful driver for cooperation. To do so, we consider a framework where agents situated on a circle network interact with their neighbors and have the choice to be egoistic, altruistic, or partially cooperative. We study the interaction between reciprocity, the likelihood that an agent reproduces value to the neighbor who has recently produced value for the agent, and inertia, the tendency of agents to repeat their previous choices even if other strategies are more successful. On the basis of extensive simulations, we conclude that for high levels of inertia, reciprocity enhances cooperation, while for low levels of inertia reciprocity rather subverts cooperation. For intermediate levels of inertia, we find a U-shaped effect. Reciprocity therefore interacts with the level of inertia in a non-monotonic fashion. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1f71feb86c8342d187de1d2e3bb07333 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-1f71feb86c8342d187de1d2e3bb073332025-08-20T02:49:09ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111110.1038/s41598-024-80408-zDirected reciprocity subverts cooperation in highly adaptive populationsJean-Jacques Herings0Ronald Peeters1Anastas P. Tenev2Department of Econometrics and Operations Research, Tilburg UniversityDepartment of Economics, University of OtagoInstitute of Economics, Corvinus University of BudapestAbstract We examine the generally accepted hypothesis that directed reciprocity is a powerful driver for cooperation. To do so, we consider a framework where agents situated on a circle network interact with their neighbors and have the choice to be egoistic, altruistic, or partially cooperative. We study the interaction between reciprocity, the likelihood that an agent reproduces value to the neighbor who has recently produced value for the agent, and inertia, the tendency of agents to repeat their previous choices even if other strategies are more successful. On the basis of extensive simulations, we conclude that for high levels of inertia, reciprocity enhances cooperation, while for low levels of inertia reciprocity rather subverts cooperation. For intermediate levels of inertia, we find a U-shaped effect. Reciprocity therefore interacts with the level of inertia in a non-monotonic fashion.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80408-zSocial dilemmaCooperationReciprocityInertia |
| spellingShingle | Jean-Jacques Herings Ronald Peeters Anastas P. Tenev Directed reciprocity subverts cooperation in highly adaptive populations Scientific Reports Social dilemma Cooperation Reciprocity Inertia |
| title | Directed reciprocity subverts cooperation in highly adaptive populations |
| title_full | Directed reciprocity subverts cooperation in highly adaptive populations |
| title_fullStr | Directed reciprocity subverts cooperation in highly adaptive populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Directed reciprocity subverts cooperation in highly adaptive populations |
| title_short | Directed reciprocity subverts cooperation in highly adaptive populations |
| title_sort | directed reciprocity subverts cooperation in highly adaptive populations |
| topic | Social dilemma Cooperation Reciprocity Inertia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80408-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jeanjacquesherings directedreciprocitysubvertscooperationinhighlyadaptivepopulations AT ronaldpeeters directedreciprocitysubvertscooperationinhighlyadaptivepopulations AT anastasptenev directedreciprocitysubvertscooperationinhighlyadaptivepopulations |