#cooperative behavior

[sb0ers]

Prairie dogs have a complex language of whistles and barks—each call can describe different predators and even their color! Talk about a sophisticated alarm system.

[wigmund]

Octopuses and fish share leadership — and enforcement — in group hunting

When octopuses and fish hunt in groups in the Red Sea, the leadership roles are more dynamic than researchers knew — as are some ways the an

Do your share or get punched.

[random-bookquotes]

Family relationships are a powerful force driving cooperative behavior. The animals have evolved to support and help their kin, as this is in their own interests, making sure that their genes are represented in future generations through their nieces and nephews, as well as through their own children. Family social groups are extraordinarily common across the animal kingdom, from meerkats to beetles. And, of course, humans. We want our children to learn, to enjoy their childhood, and to grow to be healthy and successful.

Arik Kershenbaum, Why Animals Talk: The New Science of Animal Communication

[humansindesign]

Does this Honest Tea experiment Prove that New Yorkers are more dishonest than Chicagoans? 

Probably not.  It's probably another context.  

So "Honest Tea" recently did a cool experiment/marketing campaign.  They put unstaffed stands around the US and asked people to pay a dollar for the tea by putting it a box. 

Ostensibly, the experiment was about texting which city was most honest.  The 'best' (or dumbest depending on your perspective) was Chicago with 99% paid and the worst (or smartest) was New York with 86% collected.

However, I don't think it's saying much about the cities.

I think it's probably much more about the context.  And the most likely context that makes a difference: is someone watching OR do you think someone could be watching.

We know that even fake cardboard eyes (like the below) increase honesty significantly:

I've emailed Honest T for pictures of their stands in each city.  If they come back to me I'll be doing a survey to rate the openness of the area and see if it correlates to the honesty.

- Tristan