Why people help distant kin: Math simulations support theory of 'socially enforced nepotism'
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - 13:01
in Psychology & Sociology
It's easy to understand why natural selection favors people who help close kin at their own expense: It can increase the odds the family's genes are passed to future generations. But why assist distant relatives? Mathematical simulations by a University of Utah anthropologist suggest "socially enforced nepotism" encourages helping far-flung kin.