Tolerant integrated reciprocity sustains cooperation in a noisy environment
Abstract Human cooperation relies on both direct and indirect reciprocity. While these mechanisms are often treated as separate, real-world decision-making frequently involves integrating the two. However, the existing literature has paid limited attention to the contextual factors and mechanisms su...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14538-3 |
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| author | Hitoshi Yamamoto Isamu Okada Takahisa Suzuki |
| author_facet | Hitoshi Yamamoto Isamu Okada Takahisa Suzuki |
| author_sort | Hitoshi Yamamoto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Human cooperation relies on both direct and indirect reciprocity. While these mechanisms are often treated as separate, real-world decision-making frequently involves integrating the two. However, the existing literature has paid limited attention to the contextual factors and mechanisms supporting the coexistence of direct and indirect reciprocity. This study proposes and analyses a model of integrated reciprocity that combines personal experiences with reputational information. Using agent-based simulations, we systematically and comprehensively evaluate social norms and demonstrate that tolerant integrated reciprocity, which incorporates a partner’s past behaviour and reputation, can sustain cooperation more robustly than strategies based solely on direct or indirect reciprocity. In particular, the combination of tolerant integrated reciprocity with the “Standing” norm maintains high cooperation levels even in noisy environments characterised by assessment and implementation errors. These findings suggest that tolerance and using multiple information sources provide an adaptive advantage in sustaining cooperation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dc7d35cbcbd5446898771ecbb9f6eaf2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-dc7d35cbcbd5446898771ecbb9f6eaf22025-08-20T03:42:31ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-011511810.1038/s41598-025-14538-3Tolerant integrated reciprocity sustains cooperation in a noisy environmentHitoshi Yamamoto0Isamu Okada1Takahisa Suzuki2Department of Business Administration, Rissho UniversityDepartment of Business Administration, Soka UniversityCollege of Policy Studies, Tsuda UniversityAbstract Human cooperation relies on both direct and indirect reciprocity. While these mechanisms are often treated as separate, real-world decision-making frequently involves integrating the two. However, the existing literature has paid limited attention to the contextual factors and mechanisms supporting the coexistence of direct and indirect reciprocity. This study proposes and analyses a model of integrated reciprocity that combines personal experiences with reputational information. Using agent-based simulations, we systematically and comprehensively evaluate social norms and demonstrate that tolerant integrated reciprocity, which incorporates a partner’s past behaviour and reputation, can sustain cooperation more robustly than strategies based solely on direct or indirect reciprocity. In particular, the combination of tolerant integrated reciprocity with the “Standing” norm maintains high cooperation levels even in noisy environments characterised by assessment and implementation errors. These findings suggest that tolerance and using multiple information sources provide an adaptive advantage in sustaining cooperation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14538-3Evolution of cooperationIndirect reciprocityDirect reciprocitySocial normAgent-based simulation |
| spellingShingle | Hitoshi Yamamoto Isamu Okada Takahisa Suzuki Tolerant integrated reciprocity sustains cooperation in a noisy environment Scientific Reports Evolution of cooperation Indirect reciprocity Direct reciprocity Social norm Agent-based simulation |
| title | Tolerant integrated reciprocity sustains cooperation in a noisy environment |
| title_full | Tolerant integrated reciprocity sustains cooperation in a noisy environment |
| title_fullStr | Tolerant integrated reciprocity sustains cooperation in a noisy environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tolerant integrated reciprocity sustains cooperation in a noisy environment |
| title_short | Tolerant integrated reciprocity sustains cooperation in a noisy environment |
| title_sort | tolerant integrated reciprocity sustains cooperation in a noisy environment |
| topic | Evolution of cooperation Indirect reciprocity Direct reciprocity Social norm Agent-based simulation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14538-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hitoshiyamamoto tolerantintegratedreciprocitysustainscooperationinanoisyenvironment AT isamuokada tolerantintegratedreciprocitysustainscooperationinanoisyenvironment AT takahisasuzuki tolerantintegratedreciprocitysustainscooperationinanoisyenvironment |