TY - JOUR TI - Individual biological traits and behavior in economic games in two populations: Lebanon and Jamaica DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3416XHV PY - 2007 AB - Individuals are expected to adopt different cooperative strategies depending on their ability to obtain resources and this is likely to have an effect on cooperative interactions. Some traits of the interacting party could also affect an individual's willingness to b initiate a series of benefit exchanges. Economic games have been a successful experimental tool in measuring cooperative behavior in interactions involving two or more people. The ultimatum game measures cooperative behavior in an interaction between two individuals. One individual can split money between him or herself and another, while the other has the option of accepting or rejecting the offer. Cross-cultural research showed variation in offer size and rejection rates. Another game used in anthropological research is the public goods game. Here, a group of three or more are allocated an amount of money, from which they can make a contribution to their group's account. Money in the public account is doubled and divided over all group members. This is followed by a punishment option, where subject could pay to punish another group member. Research using both games is reviewed in chapter two. This research investigates variations within individuals in two societies, Lebanon and Jamaica, by looking at some biological traits, facial and bodily symmetry, second-to-fourth digit ratio, waist-to-hip ratio and the degree of relatedness shared between the interacting individuals, among other individual traits. Subjects increase offers when playing with an anonymous close relative, rather than a more distant relative or a member of their community (chapter three). Males with higher bodily asymmetry make higher offers (chapter four). Males with higher digit ratio made higher contributions to a public account (chapter five). Furthermore, females with low digit ratio are more likely to punish while those with high digit ratio tend to invest more in their punishment (chapter five). Younger and more symmetrical females make higher offers (chapter six). Finally, responding to partner's degree of facial symmetry, subjects either adopt an empathetic approach and offer more to an asymmetrical opposite-sexed partner, or express their attraction towards the more symmetrical partner and make a higher offer (chapter seven). KW - Anthropology KW - Economics LA - English ER -