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Punishment in animal societies

Nature volume 373, pages 209–216 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

Although positive reciprocity (reciprocal altruism) has been a focus of interest in evolutionary biology, negative reciprocity (retaliatory infliction of fitness reduction) has been largely ignored. In social animals, retaliatory aggression is common, individuals often punish other group members that infringe their interests, and punishment can cause subordinates to desist from behaviour likely to reduce the fitness of dominant animals. Punishing strategies are used to establish and maintain dominance relationships, to discourage parasites and cheats, to discipline offspring or prospective sexual partners and to maintain cooperative behaviour.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Large Animal Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK

    T. H. Clutton-Brock

  2. Population Biology Research Group, Department of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Street, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK

    G. A. Parker

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  1. T. H. Clutton-Brock
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  2. G. A. Parker
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Clutton-Brock, T., Parker, G. Punishment in animal societies. Nature 373, 209–216 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/373209a0

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