Toward an Understanding of People as Social Niche Constructors: Socio-cultural and Neurological Foundations

Abstract

This paper presents the theoretical background and empirical findings from two longitudinal experimental research projects conducted by Toshio Yamagishi, which aim to elucidate the evolutionary, socio-cultural, and neuroscientific foundations of human prosociality as social niche constructors. These studies explore how social environments are shaped and sustained by the social behaviors of individuals and how these behaviors are underpinned by neurological and socio-cultural mechanisms.