Final answer:
Cooperation in hunter-gatherer societies was driven by survival needs, leading to egalitarianism and a sexual division of labor. Mobility, situational leadership, and environmental knowledge fostered a cooperative culture. Similar studies on hunter-gatherer societies like the Hadza support these findings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cooperation over competition was prevalent in hunter-gatherer societies due to several factors. One key factor was the need for survival; cooperation was vital in managing the unpredictable and often hostile environments in which these societies lived. Egalitarianism typically emerged as a societal norm, reducing conflicts that could undermine group survival. Men and women often had distinct roles, with sexual division of labor being common: women primarily gathered, which was the main source of sustenance, while men hunted, a prestigious but less reliable food source.
The mobility of these societies necessitated a culture of sharing and reciprocity, as resources could not be stored easily. Leadership was situational and based on specific tasks rather than a rigid hierarchy, contributing to a more cooperative dynamic. There was also vast knowledge of the environment, which was crucial for optimizing resource use and survival strategies. External violent interactions occurred, but not to the extent of overshadowing cooperative existence.
While hunter-gatherer societies differed in terms of specific practices depending on environmental factors like climate and resource availability, the overarching trend favored cooperation over competition. Papers that explore these themes further include studies on the Hadza, Martu, and Pintupi societies as well as cross-cultural analyses of hunter-gatherer subsistence and social organization patterns.