Synopses & Reviews
In this book, prominent authors from disciplines as diverse as biology, philosophy, and the social sciences have assembled to consider the nature of cooperation and prosocial behavior at levels of social complexity ranging from the individual to the international. Successive sections cover key topics such as the relations between cooperation in animals and humans, the development of prosocial propensities in humans, aspects of the situation and of personality that increase the probability that individuals will behave prosocially, the relationships among trust, cooperation, and commitment, and cooperation between groups and nations. Three case studies that illustrate the important issue of international cooperation are also included. The chapters are integrated by a series of useful editorials that emphasize that a full understanding of cooperation and prosocial behavior requires us to move among different levels of social complexity.
Synopsis
This book discusses the nature of cooperation, altruism and prosocial behaviour, and the factors that make their occurrence more likely.
Synopsis
While competitiveness has its place, cooperation and altruism are more important in many contexts. Here, authors from biology, philosophy and a variety of social sciences consider the nature of cooperation, altruism and prosocial behaviour between individuals, within and between groups, and between nations. Both the differences between these levels of social complexity, and the relations between them, are emphasised. Three case studies of international cooperation are included. The chapters are integrated by a series of editorials.
Table of Contents
Part I. Cooperation In Animals and Humans: 1. Help, cooperation and trust in animals; 2. Culture and cooperation; Part II. The Development of Prosocial Propensities: 3. The development and socialization of prosocial behaviour; 4. Cross-cultural differences in assertiveness/competition vs group loyalty/cooperation; 5. The development of prosocial behaviour in large-scale collective societies; 6. The learning of prosocial behaviour in small-scale egalitarian societies: an anthropological view; Part III. Structural and Personality Determinants of Prosocial Behaviour: 7. Situational and personality determinants of the quantity and quality of helping; 8. Perceiving the causes of altruism; 9. Altruism; 10. Complications and complexity in the pursuit of justice; Part IV. Trust, Cooperation and Commitment: 11. The dynamics of interpersonal trust: resolving uncertainty in the face of risk; 12. Commitment old and new: social pressure and individual choice in making relationships last; 13. Cooperation in a microcosm: lessons from laboratory games; 14. Determinants of instrumental intra-group cooperation; Part V. Cooperation Between Groups: 15. Changing assumptions about conflict and negotiation; 16. Cooperation between groups; 17. The role of UNESCO in the development of international cooperation; 18. USA/Soviet cooperation against terrorism: common ground; 19. USA policy towards the Soviet Union from Carter to Bush.