Cooperative Intergroup Mating Can Overcome Ethnocentrism in Diverse Populations

TL;DR

This study uses agent-based simulations to explore how cooperative intergroup mating can promote universal cooperation and reduce ethnocentrism in diverse populations, especially when cooperation costs are low.

Contribution

It provides computational evidence that interethnic unions can overcome ethnocentrism and foster cooperation under certain conditions.

Findings

Intergroup mating promotes universal cooperation in simulations.

Effectiveness depends on low cooperation costs and high diversity.

Supports the idea that interethnic unions can reduce ethnocentrism.

Abstract

Ethnocentrism is a behavioral strategy seen on every scale of social interaction. Game-theory models demonstrate that evolution selects ethnocentrism because it boosts cooperation, which increases reproductive fitness. However, some believe that interethnic unions have the potential to foster universal cooperation and overcome in-group biases in humans. Here, we use agent-based computer simulations to test this hypothesis. Cooperative intergroup mating does lend an advantage to a universal cooperation strategy when the cost/benefit ratio of cooperation is low and local population diversity is high.