Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - February 2012 - Volume 35, Issue 01  

Open Peer Commentary

Understanding the research program

Joseph Henricha1 and Maciej Chudeka2

a1 Department of Psychology and Department of Economics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z4, Canada. joseph.henrich@gmail.com

a2 Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z4, Canada. maciek@interchange.ubc.ca http://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~henrich/home.html

Abstract

The target article misunderstands the research program it criticizes. The work of Boyd, Richerson, Fehr, Gintis, Bowles and their collaborators has long included the theoretical and empirical study of models both with and without diffuse costly punishment. In triaging the situation, we aim to (1) clarify the theoretical landscape, (2) highlight key points of agreement, and (3) suggest a more productive line of debate.

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