Evolutionarily stable in-group favoritism and out-group spite in intergroup conflict

Konrad, Kai A. and Morath, Florian (2012): Evolutionarily stable in-group favoritism and out-group spite in intergroup conflict. In: Journal of Theoretical Biology, Vol. 306: pp. 61-67

Abstract

We study conflict between two groups of individuals. Using Schaffer`s (1988) concept of evolutionary stability we provide an evolutionary underpinning for in-group altruism combined with spiteful behavior towards members of the rival out-group. We characterize the set of evolutionarily stable combinations of in-group favoritism and out-group spite and find that an increase in in-group altruism can be balanced by a decrease in spiteful behavior towards the out-group.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Form of publication: Postprint
• Keywords: altruism, spite, in-group favoritism, conflict, evolutionary stability, indirect evolutionary approach
• Faculties: Economics; Economics > Chairs > MPI for Tax Law and Public Finance
• Subjects: 500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
• ISSN: 0022-5193
• Language: English