The Evolution of Ethnocentrism

TLDR

Ethnocentrism is a nearly universal syndrome of attitudes and behaviors that includes in‑group favoritism, and empirical evidence shows that even arbitrary group distinctions can trigger this bias, leading to preferential cooperation within groups even at individual cost. The study investigates the emergence and robustness of ethnocentric in‑group favoritism. The authors use an agent‑based evolutionary model to examine these behaviors. They find that ethnocentric behaviors can become widespread under many conditions and support high levels of cooperation, even in one‑move prisoner’s dilemma games, and that when cooperation is especially costly, ethnocentrism is necessary to sustain it.

Abstract

Ethnocentrism is a nearly universal syndrome of attitudes and behaviors, typically including in-group favoritism. Empirical evidence suggests that a predisposition to favor in-groups can be easily triggered by even arbitrary group distinctions and that preferential cooperation within groups occurs even when it is individually costly. The authors study the emergence and robustness of ethnocentric behaviors of in-group favoritism, using an agent-based evolutionary model. They show that such behaviors can become widespread under a broad range of conditions and can support very high levels of cooperation, even in one-move prisoner’s dilemma games. When cooperation is especially costly to individuals, the authors show how ethnocentrism itself can be necessary to sustain cooperation.