Homo cooperans: Why people are more cooperative than they think

Cooperation is a fundamental prerequisite for the functioning of modern societies. Whether tacking climate change, supporting public institutions or addressing shared challenges, societies depend on people’s willingness to work together – including with individuals they do not know personally. 

In their study Homo cooprans, Peter Andre, Teodora Boneva, Felix Chopra and Armin Falk investigate how widespread cooperation is around the world and which factors shape cooperative behaviour. The study is based on a global experiment involving more than 100,00 participants from 125 countries, representing around 92 per cent of the world's adult population

At the heart of the research is a simple question: Are people willing to give up a personal financial benefit in order to contribute to a collective goal? The findings provide a clear answer. Around 69 per cent of participants chose the cooperative option and accepted a personal financial cost in support of a shared objective. The results suggest that cooperation is far more widespread than many people assume. 

The researchers identify three key factors that influence cooperative behaviour: expectations about the willingness of others to cooperate, support for social norms, and concern for the common good. In addition, personal characteristics such as helpfulness, patience and a willingness to take risks are associated with a greater likelihood of cooperation. 

At the same time, the study shows that cooperation is shaped by cultural context. While the fundamental mechanisms of cooperation can be observed worldwide, the importance of individual factors varies considerably across countries.

Historical experiences, cultural values, and social norms all influence how cooperation emerges and which motivation matters most. 

One of the study’s most striking findings concerns people’s perception of others. Across the globe, participants believed that only 47 per cent of their fellow citizens would choose to cooperate, whereas the actual cooperation rate was 69 per cent. This pessimistic misperception was found in almost every country, including in the study. 

The researchers also demonstrate that such misperceptions can be corrected. Even simple information about others' attitudes and behaviour led participants to act more cooperatively. The findings suggest that trust in others' willingness to cooperate may be an important lever for strengthening collective action and social cooperation. 

Overall, the study highlights that cooperation is a fundamental human trait. People around the world are considerably more cooperative than they believe. The effectiveness of societies, therefore, depends not only on individual interests but also on the extent to which trust, shared norms, and positive expectations about others are present.