Foundations of Social Evolution

by Steven A. Frank

Overview

This is a masterly theoretical treatment of one of the central problems in evolutionary biology, the evolution of social cooperation and conflict. Steven Frank tackles the problem with a highly original combination of approaches: game theory, classical models of natural selection, quantitative genetics, and kin selection. He unites these with the best of economic thought: a clear theory of model formation and comparative statics, the development of simple methods for analyzing complex problems, and notions of information and rationality. Using this unique, multidisciplinary approach, Frank makes major advances in understanding the foundations of social evolution.


Frank begins by developing the three measures of value used in biology—marginal value, reproductive value, and kin selection. He then combines these measures into a coherent framework, providing the first unified analysis of social evolution in its full ecological and demographic context. Frank also extends the theory of kin selection by showing that relatedness has two distinct meanings. The first is a measure of information about social partners, with close affinity to theories of correlated equilibrium and Bayesian rationality in economic game theory. The second is a measure of the fidelity by which characters are transmitted to future generations—an extended notion of heritability.


Throughout, Frank illustrates his methods with many examples, including a complete reformulation of the theory of sex allocation. The book also provides a unique "how-to" guide for constructing models of social behavior. It is essential reading for evolutionary biologists and for economists, mathematicians, and others interested in natural selection.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691059341
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	07/21/1998
Series:	Monographs in Behavior and Ecology , #19
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	7.75(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Steven A. Frank is Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Irvine.

Table of Contents

Preface

1 Introduction 3

2 Natural Selection 7

3 Hamilton's Rule 45

4 Direct and Inclusive Fitness 59

5 Dynamics of Correlated Phenotypes 79

6 Relatedness as Information 94

7 Demography and Kin Selection 114

8 Reproductive Value 134

9 Sex Allocation: Marginal Value 172

10 Sex Allocation: Kin Selection 191

11 Sex Allocation: Reproductive Value 214

12 Conclusions 243

References 249

Author Index 261

Subject Index 264