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Blending direct and indirect reciprocity: Researchers create tolerance-based cooperation framework

Blending direct and indirect reciprocity: Tolerant integrated reciprocity found to sustain cooperation in noisy environments
A schematic overview of direct, indirect, and integrated reciprocity: The actor’s evaluations and actions are indicated in red. (a) In direct reciprocity, actors base their decisions on the donor’s direct actions toward them. (b) In indirect reciprocity, actors decide their actions on the basis of the donor’s past behavior toward a third party. (c) In integrated reciprocity, actors consider both the donor’s direct and indirect actions. Credit: Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-14538-3

A research team led by Professor Hitoshi Yamamoto (Rissho University, Japan) has developed a new model that integrates direct and indirect reciprocity, the two core mechanisms underpinning human cooperation. Unlike previous models that treat these processes separately, this study proposes a tolerant integrated reciprocity strategy that draws upon both personal experience and social reputation. The study's appeared in Scientific Reports on August 7, 2025.

Through agent-based simulations, the study demonstrates that this integrated approach, particularly when combined with a social norm known as "Standing," can maintain high levels of cooperation even in noisy environments where errors in judgment and communication frequently arise.

While direct reciprocity ("I help you because you helped me") and indirect reciprocity ("I help you because you helped someone else") have traditionally been studied in isolation, real-world decision-making often involves a flexible combination of both.

This research reveals that incorporating tolerance, such as choosing to cooperate even when reputational cues are unreliable, can significantly improve cooperation outcomes. These findings have broad implications for designing resilient cooperation systems in the digital age, where noise and misinformation are common.

Lead author Yamamoto notes, "Human cooperation is a delicate balance of fairness and forgiveness. Our study shows that people do not rely solely on reputation; they also consider how others have treated them directly. This dual-track strategy helps maintain cooperation in uncertain environments and may offer insights for designing better trust systems in and beyond."

More information: Hitoshi Yamamoto et al, Tolerant integrated reciprocity sustains cooperation in a noisy environment, Scientific Reports (2025).

Journal information: Scientific Reports

Provided by Rissho University

Citation: Blending direct and indirect reciprocity: Researchers create tolerance-based cooperation framework (2025, August 18) retrieved 18 August 2025 from /news/2025-08-blending-indirect-reciprocity-tolerance-based.html
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