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Winning with Losses: The Surprising Success of Negative Strategies in Social Interaction Behavior

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: In the vast network of social interactions and behaviors, it is common to find certain schemes that, on their own, might appear counterproductive to societal progress. When observed in isolation, these schemes often seem to hinder more than they help. However, due to society's complexity, the hidden potential of combining these seemingly detrimental schemes often goes unnoticed. Here, we investigate two such social behaviors, reputation and reciprocity, and their role in explaining Darwin's survival of the fittest, examining how these fundamental principles govern individual interactions and shape broader social dynamics. We outline the dynamics of these two social behaviors and underline the importance of combined strategies in enhancing group welfare and contributing to interdisciplinary research in social physics.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.133.167401

Authors: Joel Weijia Lai, Kang Hao Cheong

Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Language: English

Topic: Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750

Funders: Ministry of Education - Singapore, Nanyang Technological University