Repost: Raise the Stakes (A New Reciprocity Gambit)

The following was originally posted 11/20/99 and summarizes a talk given 11/13/99 at a meeting organized by Donald Mender, M.D., for the New York Chapter, Assn. for the Advancement of Philosophy and Psychiatry, held at St. John the Divine in Manhattan.
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Roberts and Sherrat (1999) showed in computer simulations that a strategy of "open small and raise the stakes if matched" (RTS) invades selfish strategies and was superior to "cheater," "give as good as you get," "short-changer," "occasional short-changer," and, "occasional cheat."
These results may closely parallel search strategies that locate resources for free moving organisms. That is, the presence of food or water (or a generous slot machine!) establishes some degree of cooperation between the user and the resource if the resource is abundant. Tentative consummatory behavior rapidly escalates to waste and destruction as occurred often in human history when we explored new niches and drove other species into extinction.

There are functional similarities between RTS and phenomena seen in reciprocity, mate selection, and sexual selection. Such a mechanism could act as a homing device for creatures screening prospective mates and in ways that parallel the computer simulations. There are obvious links to sexual selection --- that is, if a little is good, more MUST be better as in various male displays. Similar amplification of signal and approach sequences occur in courtship. "But soft, what light at yon window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun."
These notions are consistent with:
- The findings of Buss (1994) and others that "kindness" is the primary attraction for men and for women, regardless of their culture. And one expression of "kindness" might be that of "Open small and raise the stakes if matched."
- Instant appraisals for wealth and social dominance atftract women in short term mating gambits; for sensuality that is an attraction for males with similar motives.
- Behavior seen in both hyperthymia and dysthymia. In the former, positive consequences elicit disproportionate optimism and increased approach behavior; in the latter, negative information elicits seeking for more of the same. In either the positive or the aversive situation, inhibitory systems that cut off behavioral and emotional escalation do not seem to be operating.
- The growth of obsessions for a hobby, an individual (failing in love), or for a set of beliefs.
- Spouse abuse in which mild criticism and physical threats are perceived as initially effective and escalation occurs for alleged lapses in the future.
- Thought distortions such as catastrophizing or awfulizing.
- Many cultural annoyances such as the tactics used by sales personnel whether in auto, insurance, or real estate transactions.
- Research strategy, recruiting students, and grants applications.
- Recruiting by various religions, civic organizations, and hate groups.

There are neurophysiological implications of this model. There is some research that a "greater than expected reward" produces dopamine release at particular sites in the brain. It could also be driven by the sensory mechanism of lateral inhibition (Von Bekesy, 1967). Such a mechanism could act as a guide for creatures seeking inanimate resources or screening prospective mates and in ways that parallel the computer simulations. Understanding the neurological underpinnings for RTS and for its normal inhibitory mechanisms could be productive for a broad spectrum of human behavior excesses.

References

Buss, D. (1994) The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating. New York: Basic Books.
Roberts, G. and Sherrat, T. (1998) Development of cooperative relationships through increasing investment. Nature, 394, 175-179.
Von Bekesy, G. (1967) Mach band type lateral inhibition in different sense organs. Joumal of General Physiology, 50(3), 519-532.

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