Citation

Ross D. Behav. Brain Sci. 2012; 35(1): 37-38.

Affiliation

University of Cape Town, School of Economics, University of Cape Town, Private bag, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa. don.ross@uct.ac.za http://uct.academia.edu/DonRoss.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S0140525X11000896

PMID

22289327

Abstract

Guala notes that low-cost punishment is the main mechanism that deters free-riding in small human communities. This mechanism is complemented by unusual human vulnerability to gossip. Defenders of an evolutionary discontinuity supporting human sociality might seize on this as an alternative to enjoyment of moralistic aggression as a special adaptation. However, the more basic adaptation of language likely suffices.

Language: en