Cooperation

Cooperation can be simply defined as interactions between people that produce mutual benefit or meet a common purpose. If we are going to discuss cooperation and the best ways to promote it, an excellent place to look is at Robert Axelrod's studies.

In "The Evolution of Cooperation", Axelrod explores the robustness of a simple strategy called TIT FOR TAT. As the name implies, the strategy is based on reciprocity. This is considered a "nice strategy" because it will never be the first to defect - defect meaning to break cooperation. Though, once another party defects against one using TIT FOR TAT, they will reciprocate the defection.

The problem with this view is that turning the other cheek provides an incentive for the other player to exploit you. Unconditional cooperation can not only hurt you, but it can hurt other innocent bystanders with whom the successful exploiters will interact later.

The Evolution of Cooperation, Robert Axelrod

The view Axelrod is pertaining to in the first sentence above is the Golden Rule - "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Though, I think the sentiment of this rule is positive, as it promotes consideration, the "turn the other cheek" approach that comes with this rule unfortunately has been proven in Axelrod's studies to not only be impractical but not even morally sound. By letting someone break cooperation with you without consequences, you not only invite/encourage further defections in the future but place burden on others to deal with this exploiter who has gone unchecked. So, reciprocity may seem contrary to your current moral code, but in reality this approach poses to have a more beneficial impact holistically.

Now, one problem with the original TIT FOR TAT strategy that Axelrod addresses is the possibility of an endless reciprocation of defects, where cooperation doesn't retore. To deal with this issue Axelrod proposes two solutions. First solution is reciprocating only nine-tenths of the other player's defection. In Axelrod's words:

This would help dampen the echoing of conflict and still provide an incentive to the other player not to try any gratuitous defections.

The Evolution of Cooperation, Robert Axelrod

Second solution is to realize that if we defect by accident, we don't have to reprocate again. Axelrod calls these two solutions generosity and contrition in his book, "The Complexity of Cooperation". In this sequel to his book, "The Evolution of Cooperation", he brings the element of "noise" into his studies.

You see, one reality of our complex world, which we are all subjected to, is "noise". Noise can lead to possible misinterpretations of other people's actions. Let's face it, some people make innocent mistakes, which we may take as deliberate. Through his studies he discovers that TIT FOR TAT still remains robust in a complex adaptive system as long as the addition of generosity and contrition are available to cope with inherent noise.

So to quickly summarize what I've discussed so far, Axelrod offers some fundamental principles towards establishing cooperation:

• Never be the first to defect
• Reciprocate cooperation and defection
• Apply generosity to reciprocated defects
• Apply contrition to correct your own mistakes

In future posts, I will be discussing the topics of envy and what Axelrod calls, "enlarging the shadow of the future", with regards to promoting cooperation.

Resources:

• "The Evolution of Cooperation", Revised edition, Robert Axelrod
• "The Complexity of Cooperation: Agent-Based Models of Competition and Collaboration", Robert Axelrod