Humans are some of the most cooperative species, which allowed them to become the dominant force on Earth. Other species that are larger or stronger cannot withstand against organized groups of Homo Sapiens.

A recent study suggests that changes in the environment led humankind to become more tolerant of others outside their own immediate group and promoted cooperation, which formed us as one the most successful species on the planet at the present time.

How environment formed tolerance in humans

When life got tough, it was highly beneficial for various groups of humans to cooperate and share resources, which led to the unusual friendliness and tolerance of Homo Sapiens, the new study suggests.

As compared to other species that tend to be extremely unfriendly and defensive to outsiders, even if they belong to their own kind, humans are more tolerant and friendly towards members of other groups.

The University of York scientists came to the conclusion that such evolution was the result of changes in the environment.

The researchers believe that this happened when humans left Africa and started to move to other continents, where the environment wasn’t as naturally abundant and friendly.

Reviewing the archeological data from the period from 300 thousand to 30 thousand years ago, there was enough evidence of interactions between various groups of people, including exchange of raw materials over long distances.

Such populations that were cooperative with other human groups were more successful, according to the scientists. They had higher chances to survive in difficult and changing environments as compared to tribes that didn’t cooperate with other groups.

At the same time, the evidence suggests that in rich and comfortable environments there was no competitive advantage for tribes to cooperate, while in extremely severe conditions sharing was simply not viable.

We often think about prehistoric times as harshly competitive, but it shows that cooperation was the key to survival of human tribes in times of adversity even at that distant period. Sharing surpluses across borders benefited all the groups in the long run.

In our times when globalism gets a bad rap we should remember about our historical evolution as the species and its intercultural roots.

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