altruistic behavior: behaviors benefit others rather than the individual committing the behavior....
Post on 21-Dec-2015
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Altruistic behavior: Behaviors benefit others rather than the individual committing the behavior.
Human, rare in early childhoodNonhuman: sentinel behavior of
meerkats—escape danger most quickly or surely.
Evolution of Altruistic Behaviors
Two possible explanations for altruistic behavior
Kin selection: selection in favor of a gene because it benefits the animal’s relatives who are likely to carry the same gene. This would be
“nepotistic altruism”
Reciprocal altruism: the idea that animals help those who help them in return. Requires good
sensory organs and a well-developed brain to recognize those who did the favor.