Evolution and Cooperation

Rusch, H., Leunissen, J. M., & Van Vugt, M. (2015). Historical and experimental evidence of sexual selection for war heroism. Evolution and Human Behavior, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2015.02.005 Download Abstract We report three studies which test a sexual selection hypothesis for male war heroism. Based on evolutionary theories of mate choice we hypothesize that men signal...

Barclay, P. & Van Vugt, M. (2015). The Evolutionary Psychology of Human Prosociality: Adaptations, Byproducts, and Mistakes. In D. Schroeder and B. Graziano, Handbook of Prosocial Behavior. (pp. 37-60) Chapter 2: Oxford University Press.  Download Abstract Evolutionary psychologists seek to understand prosocial behavior at four complementary levels of analysis: psychological mechanisms,...

Van Honk, J., Montoya, E., Bos, P., Van Vugt, M., & Terburg, D. (2012). New evidence on testosterone and cooperation. Nature, 485, E4-5. doi:10.1038/nature11136 Download Abstract In February 2010, Eisenegger et al. reported increased fair bargainingbehaviour after administration of testosterone in an ultimatum game.However, unfair offers in the ultimatum game typically are rejected; thus,...

Van Vugt, M., & Iredale, W. (2012). Men behaving nicely: Public goods as peacock tails. British Journal of Psychology, doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.2011.02093 Download Abstract Insights from sexual selection and costly signalling theory suggest that competition for females underlies men's public good contributions. We conducted two public good experiments to test this hypothesis. First, we found...

Van Lange, P., Finkenauer, C., Popma, A., & Van Vugt, M. (2011). Electrodes as social glue: Measuring heart rate promotes giving in the trust game. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 80, 246-250 Download Abstract: While physiological measures are increasingly used to help us understand the workings of interpersonal trust (and related behaviors), we know very little about the effects...

Van Vugt, M., & Hardy, C. (2010). Cooperation for reputation: Wasteful contributions as costly signals in public goods. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 13, 101-111 Download Abstract: Why do people persistently contribute to public goods and does it matter to them if their donation makes a difference? A costly signalling perspective suggests that donors might be more concerned about...

O'Gorman, R. O., Henrich, J., & Van Vugt, M.(2009). Constraining free-riding in public goods games: Designated solitary punishers can sustain human cooperation. Proceedings of Royal Society-B, 276, 323-329.  Download Abstract Much of human cooperation remains an evolutionary riddle. Unlike other animals, people frequently cooperate with non-relatives in large groups. Evolutionary models...

Iredale, W., Van Vugt., M., & Dunbar, R. (2008). Showing off in humans: Male generosity as mate signal. Evolutionary Psychology, 6, 386-392.  Abstract We examined people’s charity contributions while in the presence of an observer of the same sex, opposite sex, or no observer. Inspired by costly signaling theory, we hypothesized that men would be more generous in the presence of a potential...