Evolution of cooperation driven by diversity on a double-layer square lattice

Abstract

Understanding the potential promotion mechanism for the formation and maintenance of cooperation is a pivotal issue in the development of human society and the natural world. Evolutionary games provide a forceful theoretical tool to probe into the essence of cooperative behaviors. It is considered that diversity (heterogeneity) is a common attribute of individuals and their interaction environment. We explore the propagation of cooperation under the influence of diversity and identify the similarities and discrepancies in the impact of internal and external sources of heterogeneity. The results show that heterogeneity, regardless of its origin, can promote the diffusion of cooperative behaviors. However, our researches further demonstrate that diversity of individual internal attributes is more conducive to the formation of cooperative behaviors than environmental heterogeneity. Moreover, we discuss the impact of asymmetry on the results and verify the robustness of the conclusions in different mixed game models. Our explorations shed some light on the promotion mechanism of cooperation from the perspective of sources of heterogeneity and highlight the role of diversity in the spread of altruistic behaviors.