Rachel is waiting at a red light as a car pulls up from a small side street a few cars in front of her. As the light turns green, no one is letting the car merge onto the main road. As Rachel approaches, she waves to the car's driver to signal that he can merge. Although her behavior seems genuinely unselfish, Rachel likely expects other drivers to return the favor for her someday, which is an example of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rachel's behavior is an example of reciprocal altruism, in which an individual does something helpful for someone else with the expectation that the favor will eventually be returned. This type of behavior is often seen as an evolutionary strategy for increasing one's own chances of survival and reproduction, as those who are known for helping others are more likely to receive help themselves in the future.

Rachel Is Waiting at a Red Light as a Car