Cultural Traditions and the Treatment of Freeriders

Authors

Christina Pomianek Ph.D., University of MissouriFollow
Craig T. Palmer Ph.D., University of MissouriFollow
Reed L. Wadley Ph.D., University of MissouriFollow
Katherine Coe Ph.D., University of ArizonaFollow

Abstract

Evolutionary approaches to the explanation of human behavior are often employed in hypotheses about the toleration and punishment of freeriders. Despite the explanatory potential of evolutionary perspectives, many such perspectives ignore the unique human factor that has influenced the economic, social, and political contexts within which, up until very recently in human existence, reactions to freeriding always occurred. This human factor is the role of cultural traditions (i.e., behaviors passed down from ancestors to descendants). Cultural traditions necessarily play an important role in identifying, defining, preventing, and determining the treatment of freeriders because many traditional moral codes apply specifically to socioeconomic exchanges in which freeriding occurs. In this paper, we use the cross-cultural record to examine the traditions that are used for identifying freeriders and defining their punishment.

Recommended Citation

Pomianek, Christina Ph.D.; Palmer, Craig T. Ph.D.; Wadley, Reed L. Ph.D.; and Coe, Katherine Ph.D. (2011) "Cultural Traditions and the Treatment of Freeriders," Journal of International and Global Studies: Vol. 3: No. 1, Article 1.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/jigs/vol3/iss1/1

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