Like family: Network coevolution and the emergence of altruism

Abstract

ABSTRACTAltruism is difficult to explain in an evolutionary context—the mechanisms of selection appear to favor selfishness. Existing scholarly work addressing this puzzle relies on structural and behavioral assumptions that severely limit generalizability. The model presented in this article circumvents the need for such assumptions by incorporating an evolving network component to natural selection. Through a process of coevolution of individual and relational traits, many of the exogenous assumptions of previous models of the evolution of cooperation are realized endogenously within a simulated population. Such endogeneity allows a more precise examination of conditions under which cooperation arises, but also a clearer understanding of how those conditions themselves arise. The model is specified analytically, and interpretation is carried out on simulated outcomes.