Evolutionary Theory of Warfare
War as a means to gain reproductive resources
The evolutionary theory of warfare proposes that war is an adaptive strategy for men to gain access to reproductive resources, such as women. This theory is based on the idea that men have evolved psychological mechanisms to engage in coalitional warfare, which allows them to gain a disproportionate share of reproductive resources. The theory also suggests that men are more likely to engage in warfare when their odds of success appear high, and that they have evolved psychological mechanisms to enforce the risk contract and detect and punish cheaters, defectors, and traitors.
- Men have evolved psychological mechanisms to engage in coalitional warfare to gain access to reproductive resources.
- The risk contract of war must be met for warfare adaptations to evolve, including the average long-term gain in reproductive resources, the belief that one's group will emerge victorious, the risk that each member takes, and the importance of each member's contribution to the success.
- Men should panic and flee when death appears to be imminent, and should be more likely to go to war when their odds of success appear high.
- Forming CoalitionsMen form coalitions with other men to engage in warfare, with the goal of gaining access to reproductive resources.Pro tipCoalitions are more likely to form when there is a high degree of cooperation and trust among members.WarningCoalitions can also lead to free-riding and exploitation, which can undermine the success of the coalition.
- Assessing the Risk ContractMen must assess the risk contract of war, including the average long-term gain in reproductive resources, the belief that one's group will emerge victorious, the risk that each member takes, and the importance of each member's contribution to the success.Pro tipMen should carefully weigh the potential benefits and costs of engaging in warfare, and consider the potential consequences of their actions.WarningMen who do not take risks by fighting must be excluded from sharing the benefits of victory to prevent free-riding.
- Enforcing the Risk ContractMen must enforce the risk contract by detecting and punishing cheaters, defectors, and traitors, and by ensuring that each member contributes to the success of the coalition.Pro tipMen should establish clear rules and norms for the coalition, and should be willing to punish those who violate them.WarningFailure to enforce the risk contract can lead to the collapse of the coalition and the failure of the warfare effort.
The Yanomamö war was a conflict between two tribes, the Monou-teri and the Patanowa-teri, over access to women and other resources. The war was characterized by repeated cycles of raids and counterraids, and resulted in the death of several men and the capture of women.
The evolutionary theory of warfare was first proposed by Tooby and Cosmides in 1988. They argued that war is an adaptive strategy for men to gain access to reproductive resources, and that men have evolved psychological mechanisms to engage in coalitional warfare. Since then, the theory has been supported by various lines of evidence, including studies of human skeletal remains and observations of warfare across cultures.