Is It Good to Cooperate? Testing the Theory of Morality-as-Cooperation in 60 Societies

Current Anthropology • Vol/Iss. 60(1) • University of Chicago Press • • Published In • Pages: 47-69 •
By Curry, Oliver Scott, Mullins, Daniel Austin, Whitehouse, Harvey

Abstract

The present study examines 60 societies from the Probability Sample Files to see if there is a cross-cultural moral valence of seven cooperative behaviors. These behaviors include: being brave, deferring to superiors, dividing disputed resources, helping kin, helping your group, reciprocating, and respecting prior possessions. The results offer support for the theory of morality-as-cooperation that these seven behaviors tend to be widely held morals across cultures.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Probability Sample Files (PSF)Previously Coded

Hypotheses (8)

HypothesisSupported
Helping kin will be considered morally good instead of bad and observed across cultures.Supported
Helping your group will be considered morally good instead of bad and observed across cultures.Supported
Reciprocating will be considered morally good instead of bad and observed across cultures.Supported
Being brave will be considered morally good instead of bad and observed across cultures.Marginally Supported
Respecting superiors will be considered morally good instead of bad and observed across cultures.Marginally Supported
Dividing disputed resources will be considered morally good instead of bad and observed across cultures.Not Supported
Respecting property will be considered morally good instead of bad and observed across cultures.Supported
The cooperative behaviors of helping kin, helping your group, reciprocating, being brave, respecting superiors, dividing resources, and respecting property will be considered positive and observed across societies.Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: milagro.escobar  anj.droe