Foundations of Social Evolution

Steven A. Frank

Princeton University Press, 21 juil. 1998 - 268 pages

This is a masterly theoretical treatment of one of the central problems in evolutionary biology, the evolution of social cooperation and conflict. Steven Frank tackles the problem with a highly original combination of approaches: game theory, classical models of natural selection, quantitative genetics, and kin selection. He unites these with the best of economic thought: a clear theory of model formation and comparative statics, the development of simple methods for analyzing complex problems, and notions of information and rationality. Using this unique, multidisciplinary approach, Frank makes major advances in understanding the foundations of social evolution.


Frank begins by developing the three measures of value used in biology--marginal value, reproductive value, and kin selection. He then combines these measures into a coherent framework, providing the first unified analysis of social evolution in its full ecological and demographic context. Frank also extends the theory of kin selection by showing that relatedness has two distinct meanings. The first is a measure of information about social partners, with close affinity to theories of correlated equilibrium and Bayesian rationality in economic game theory. The second is a measure of the fidelity by which characters are transmitted to future generations--an extended notion of heritability.


Throughout, Frank illustrates his methods with many examples, including a complete reformulation of the theory of sex allocation. The book also provides a unique "how-to" guide for constructing models of social behavior. It is essential reading for evolutionary biologists and for economists, mathematicians, and others interested in natural selection.

Table des matières

• Introduction: 1
• Natural Selection: 5
• 21 Aggregate Quantities: 6
• 22 Partitions and Causal Analysis: 9
• 23 Genotypes and Phenotypes: 23
• 24 Comparative Statics and Dynamics: 29
• 25 Maximization and Measures of Value: 31
• Hamiltons Rule: 43
• 31 Overview: 44
• 32 Hamiltons 1970 Proof: 45
• 33 Quellers Quantitative Genetic Model: 48
• 34 ExactTotal Models: 51
• 35 Coefficients of Relatedness: 54
• 36 Prospects for Synthesis: 56
• Direct and Inclusive Fitness: 57
• 41 Modified Price Equation: 58
• 42 Regression Equations: 60
• 43 Maximization: 67
• 44 Coefficients of Relatedness: 72
• Dynamics of Correlated Phenotypes: 77
• 52 Correlated Phenotypes: 80
• 53 Strategy Set: 86
• Relatedness as Information: 92
• 61 Interpretation of Relatedness Coefficients: 93
• 62 Conditional Behavior: 96
• 63 Kin Recognition: 102
• 64 Correlated Strategy and Information: 111
• Demography and Kin Selection: 112
• 72 Dispersal in a Stable Habitat: 114
• 73 Joint Analysis of Demography and Selection: 121
• 74 Components of Fitness: 127
• Reproductive Value: 132
• 82 Child Mortality in Social Groups: 143
• 83 Parasite Virulence: 161
• 84 Social Evolution in Two Habitats: 164
• 85 Review of the Three Measures of Value: 168
• Sex Allocation Marginal Value: 170
• 91 Fishers Theory of Equal Allocation: 171
• 92 The Three Measures of Value: 172
• 93 Variable Resources and Conditional Adjustment: 176
• 94 Returns per Individual Offspring: 181
• 95 Critique of the Costs of Males and Females: 185
• 96 Multiple Resources: 187
• Sex Allocation Kin Selection: 189
• 101 Haplodiploidy: 190
• 102 Competitive and Cooperative Interactions among Relatives: 192
• 103 Sex Ratio Games: 197
• 104 Social Topics: 205
• Sex Allocation Reproductive Value: 212
• 112 Shifts in Sex Allocation with Age: 216
• 113 Perturbation of Stable Age Structure: 220
• 114 Cyclical Age Structure with MaleFemale Asymmetry: 222
• 115 Transmission of Individual Quality: 229
• 116 Juveniles of One Sex Help Parents: 233
• 117 Multigeneration Colonies: 236
• Conclusions: 241
• 122 Dynamics: 242
• References: 247
• Author Index: 259
• Subject Index: 262

À propos de l'auteur

Steven A. Frank is Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Irvine.

Informations bibliographiques

• Titre: Foundations of Social Evolution; Foundations of Social Evolution, Steven A. Frank; Volume 19 de Monographs in Behavior and Ecology
• Auteur: Steven A. Frank
• Édition: illustrée
• Éditeur: Princeton University Press, 1998
• ISBN: 0691059349, 9780691059341
• Longueur: 268 pages