The price you pay: cost-dependent reputation effects of altruistic punishment

• Published in: Evolution and human behavior Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 242 - 248
• Main Author: Nelissen, Rob M.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.07.2008
• Subjects: Altruism; Altruistic punishment; Behavioural psychology; Costly signaling; Costs; Indirect reciprocity; Psychiatry; Punishment; Reciprocity; Reputation; Trust; Altruism; Reputation; Altruistic punishment; Costly signaling; Indirect reciprocity

Abstract Two studies were conducted to test reputation-based accounts of altruism which predict that the more people sacrifice to help others, the greater their ensuing benefits. We tested this prediction by varying the cost invested in altruistic behavior, here modeled as costly sanctioning of unfa...