Summary
Helping others who are likely to return the favour later, as vampire bats share blood meals.
In depth
Trivers (1971): works if individuals interact repeatedly and can recognise and punish cheaters. Tit-for-tat strategy performs well in iterated prisoner's dilemma.
Requirements: repeated encounters, recognition of individuals, ability to remember favours and low cost to the donor relative to benefit. Cheating threatens stability unless punished.
Example: grooming exchanges in primates and cleaner fish services follow reciprocity.
Frequently asked questions
What is Reciprocal Altruism?
Helping others who are likely to return the favour later, as vampire bats share blood meals.
Which area of biology covers Reciprocal Altruism, and how advanced is it?
Reciprocal Altruism is one of the 53 topics in Animal Behaviour. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Altruism, Hamilton's Rule, Dominance Hierarchies.
Can you give an example of Reciprocal Altruism?
Vampire bats share blood with roost-mates that previously shared with them.
What should I learn before Reciprocal Altruism?
Work through the Beginner topics in Animal Behaviour first, such as Animal Behaviour, Innate Behaviour, Learned Behaviour, then return to Reciprocal Altruism. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
What topics are related to Reciprocal Altruism?
The closest topics to Reciprocal Altruism are Altruism, Hamilton's Rule, Dominance Hierarchies, Game Theory in Behaviour. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Reciprocal Altruism?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Reciprocal Altruism. To practise the whole of Animal Behaviour, use the Animal Behaviour quiz.
How is Reciprocal Altruism different from Altruism?
Reciprocal Altruism: Helping others who are likely to return the favour later, as vampire bats share blood meals. Altruism: Behaviour that benefits others at a cost to the actor, explained by kin selection and reciprocity. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Reciprocal Altruism step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Altruism and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Animal Behaviour quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.