The evolution of peace

Cooperation is an evolved trait

Though we often highlight the human propensity for conflict, humans are unique in that we generally cooperate harmoniously across group boundaries, allowing for the exchange of materials and ideas. A review article argues that cultural evolution and group competition produced norms of cooperation within and between human groups. Groups with beneficial norms outperform groups without, and it is often beneficial to cooperate and help rather than to exploit and harm. If one group is “stronger” but refuses to cooperate, it will be outcompeted by “weaker” groups that work together. This research shows how cooperative behavior evolved and is, in many ways, more natural for humans than selfish or harmful behavior.

Group norms enable humans to achieve peace but also enable large-scale conflict

New research argues that humans’ harmonious cross-group cooperation occurs due to a few factors unique to humans, including (1) large benefits from intergroup cooperation and (2) group norms that allow groups to regulate the behavior of group members. Benefits to cooperation give groups the motivation for peace over conflict, and group norms give groups the capacity to attain peace by preventing individuals from behaving aggressively towards the other side. But, paradoxically, these group norms can also enable groups to engage in large-scale conflicts by compelling individuals to engage in aggressive behavior that they otherwise would not. This research shows how humans use culture to achieve more than we can alone, but that this cultural power can be mobilized for peace or conflict.