Cooperation
Cooperation is the process of groups of organisms working or acting together for common, mutual, or some underlying benefit, as opposed to working in competition for selfish benefit. Many animal and plant species cooperate both with other members of their own species and with members of other species (symbiosis or mutualism).
Biological Cooperation[edit | edit source]
Biological cooperation can occur between individuals of the same species or individuals of different species. The cooperation among individuals can be either direct or indirect. In direct cooperation, individuals cooperate to benefit themselves and others. In indirect cooperation, individuals help others as a means to help themselves.
Types of Cooperation[edit | edit source]
There are several types of cooperation, including direct reciprocity, indirect reciprocity, mutualism, and group selection.
Direct Reciprocity[edit | edit source]
Direct reciprocity occurs when there is repeated interaction between the same individuals. In this case, an individual can benefit from cooperating if the same individual is likely to return the favor in the future.
Indirect Reciprocity[edit | edit source]
Indirect reciprocity, also known as "I scratch your back, you scratch someone else's back", occurs when an individual cooperates with another individual, and this increases the cooperative individual's reputation. This reputation, in turn, increases the likelihood that others will cooperate with the individual in the future.
Mutualism[edit | edit source]
Mutualism is a form of cooperation where both parties benefit. This can occur between individuals of the same species or between individuals of different species.
Group Selection[edit | edit source]
Group selection involves a specific group of individuals cooperating to survive and reproduce. This can lead to an increase in the frequency of genes that promote cooperative behavior.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Cooperation Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
