Games Primates Play

The evolution and economics of human relationships.
by Dario Maestripieri, Ph.D.

Is Love Meant to Be Stressful?

By Dario Maestripieri, Ph.D. on January 29, 2012 in Games Primates Play

All cooperative relationships share the same commitment problem: a business partner may cooperate one moment and cheat in another; a Congressman may support Romney's campaign for months and then switch allegiance to Gingrich the day after he wins the South Carolina Primary. The commitment problem occurs because costs and benefits of a relationship may change over time. Read More

I adore this article!

Submitted by Kelly Cash on January 29, 2012 - 5:55am.

Brilliant!

So...

Submitted by Martian Bachelor on January 29, 2012 - 9:52pm.

Commitment uncertainty makes for stressful commitments? Ones in which one or both "handycap tests" the relationship to death, since this comes at the expense of the cooperative benefits and each's investment at that point.

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Dario Maestripieri, Ph.D.

Dario Maestripieri, Ph.D., is a professor of comparative human development, evolutionary biology, and neurobiology at the University of Chicago.

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