Social Code

2-22-06
Evolutionary psychologists have developed the theory that the enduring presence of social exchange interactions among our ancestors has selected for cognitive mechanisms that are specialized for reasoning about social exchange. Reciprocity is an outcome of selection pressures that have led to its selection as being beneficial for adaptation and survival. Here is a most interesting example of reciprocity or social exchange to the extreme: forensic scientists say that Roman Gladiators adhered to a strict code during battles to prevent abuse and gore. I see this same line of thinking played out everyday by our Military. If only our enemy did the same.