Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Social science

Hunter-gatherer cooperation

Subjects

A study of social networks in the hunter-gatherer Hadza people in Tanzania illuminates the evolutionary origins of humans' unique style of cooperation in groups. See Letter p.497

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Helping hands.

PHOTOSTOCK-ISRAEL/ALAMY

References

  1. Henrich, N. & Henrich, J. Why Humans Cooperate: A Cultural and Evolutionary Explanation (Oxford Univ. Press, 2007).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Silk, J. B. et al. Nature 437, 1357–1359 (2005).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Marlowe, F. W. Evol. Anthropol. 14, 54–67 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Apicella, C. L., Marlowe, F. W., Fowler, J. H. & Christakis, N. A. Nature 481, 497–501 (2012).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hamilton, W. D. in Biosocial Anthropology (ed. Fox, R.) 133–156 (Malaby, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Boyd, R., Richerson, P. J. & Henrich, J. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 65, 431–444 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. McNamara, J. M., Barta, Z., Fromhage, L. & Houston, A. I. Nature 451, 189–192 (2008).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Tooby, J. & Cosmides, L. Proc. Br. Acad. 88, 119–143 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Marlowe, F. W. in Foundations of Human Sociality (eds Henrich, J. et al.) 168–193 (Oxford Univ. Press, 2004).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  10. Silk, J. B. et al. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 61, 197–204 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joseph Henrich.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Henrich, J. Hunter-gatherer cooperation. Nature 481, 449–450 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/481449a

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/481449a

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing