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Nature 452, 297-298 (20 March 2008) | doi:10.1038/452297a; Published online 19 March 2008
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- University of Exeter
- Exeter United Kingdom
Post-Doctoral Fellow
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Stanford, California
Human behaviour: Punisher pays
Manfred Milinski1 & Bettina Rockenbach2
Abstract
The tendency of humans to punish perceived free-loaders, even at a cost to themselves, is an evolutionary puzzle: punishers perish, and those who benefit the most are those who have never punished at all.
Humans are champions of cooperation. Reciprocity — the idea that, if I help you this time, you'll help me next time1 — is a secret of our success.
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