Research in both evolutionary economics and evolutionary psychology provides strong evidence that human behavior can be, and is, a complex mix of hedonism and altruism with a strong inclination toward cooperation under certain conditions. In this article, behavioral assumptions made in mainstream business theory are compared and contrasted with empirical findings generated from evolutionary theory. Drawing from an evolutionary foundation, the current article illustrates three widely available exercises that educators can use to (a) explore the human capacity for cooperation and others-directed behaviors and (b) counter the overreliance on self-interest to explain human behavior at work.
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