Seeding cooperation.
Abstract
Short Work Statement:Population structure is known to be a crucial component for the evolution of cooperation in social dilemmas, and we seek to study its effects in more detail. Specifically, we propose to use a combination of analytical and numerical techniques to better understand which population structures and cooperator configurations are most favored by natural selection.Objective:Our objective is to understand precisely when selection favors the evolution cooperation in structured populations. If defectors do nothing and cooperators pay a cost in order to provide the opponent with a benefit, then we are interested in which configurations of cooperators and defectors are optimal, i.e. which configurations are most promoted by natural selection. A thorough understanding of how to seed cooperation in a way that it is most favored by selection has many applications to the strategic design of social networks that promote cooperation and, in particular,collaborative behaviors.Approach:We propose using a combination of analytical, statistical, computational, and numerical techniques. On the analytical side, our approach is to use probabilistic methods that have seen success in closely related areas. Using approximation techniques, we can also approach the problem of how to seed cooperation by specifying basic statistical properties of a population. Furthermore, Monte Carlo simulations allow one to quickly generate a large amount of data describing the evolutionary dynamics of cooperation in structured populations--even in large populations. We can usethis data to gather insight into the dynamics of cooperation as well as to illustrate and support analytical predictions.ONR Mission/Relevance:A detailed understanding of the influence of population structure on the evolution of simple traits like cooperation has many applications to the design of optimal configurations. This design applies both the spatial structure, e.g. the connections between individuals in a social network, and the initial placement of cooperative behaviors within the population. Ideally, one could use evolutionary game theory to design social networks that best promote the spread of cooperation and/or collaboration, which is highly relevant to the ONR s mission to better understand complex social and biological networks. Cooperation is widely observed in both cultural and biological settings, and a better understanding of how cooperation spreads has ramifications in areas ranging from team building to climate change
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141612914
Entities
People
- Martin A. Nowak
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- President and Fellows of Harvard College
- United States Navy