essay on relevance and need of mutual cooperation

Student Essays

Essay on Cooperation – Need & Importance of Cooperation in Life

Cooperation is the human virtue to work together, to cooperate in dealing with the day to day challenges of life. The very concept of human society and the growth of civilizations is based upon the basic tenets of mutual cooperation. As, mankind can never live without the cooperation of fellow beings. This Essay on Cooperation talks about its meaning, concept and importance of cooperation in Life and how cooperation is essential for students to surmount the life challenges

Essay on Cooperation | Need, Value & Importance of Cooperation in Life for Students

Cooperation refers to the process of working jointly with others towards a common goal. It is an essential skill that helps in achieving success both professionally and personally. In this essay, we will discuss the importance of cooperation in life.

Cooperation can be defined as the process of working jointly with others towards a common goal. It is an essential skill that helps in achieving success both professionally and personally. Cooperation involves communication, teamwork, and compromise. It is necessary in order to achieve goals and resolve conflicts.

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Cooperation is important in Life because 

• Helps to achieve goals: Cooperation helps people to work together towards a common goal. This can be done by sharing ideas and working as a team.
• Helps to resolve conflicts: Cooperation can help to resolve conflicts between people. By working together, people can understand each other’s point of view and find a solution that is agreeable to all.
• Helps to build relationships: Cooperation helps to build strong relationships between people. When people work together, they develop trust and respect for each other. This can help to strengthen relationships in both personal and professional settings.
• Improves communication: Cooperation helps to improve communication between people. By working together, people are able to share ideas and communicate effectively. This can help to resolve misunderstandings and improve team morale.
• Helps to learn new skills: Cooperation helps people to learn new skills. By working with others, people are able to share their knowledge and learn from each other. This can help them to develop new skills and become more productive members of the team.

Importance of Cooperation for Students

For students, cooperation is essential for academic success. In order to do well in school, students need to work together and cooperate with their classmates. This can be done by sharing ideas, helping each other with homework, and working as a team. Cooperation is also important in the workplace. In order to be successful, employees need to be able to work together and cooperate with their coworkers. This can be done by sharing ideas, working as a team, and resolving conflicts.

Cooperation is also important in personal relationships. In order to have successful relationships, people need to be able to cooperate with each other. This can be done by communicating effectively, compromising, and working together towards a common goal in life.

Therefore, cooperation is an essential skill that helps in achieving success both professionally and personally. It is important because it helps to achieve goals, resolve conflicts, build relationships, improve communication, and learn new skills.

Essay on Cooperation & Competition:

The concepts of cooperation and competition are central to our daily lives, influencing the way we interact with others. From a young age, we are taught both the importance of working together towards a common goal and the drive to succeed over others. These two seemingly opposing forces play critical roles in shaping our society and ultimately determine its success.

Cooperation: Building Stronger Bonds

Cooperation can be defined as the act of individuals working together towards a common goal or purpose. It requires mutual understanding, respect, and trust between parties involved. In today’s world, where diversity is celebrated, cooperation has become essential in creating cohesive communities and promoting social harmony.

One of the primary benefits of cooperation is that it allows individuals to combine their strengths and resources, leading to more significant achievements than if they were working alone. In a cooperative environment, individuals complement each other’s skills and compensate for each other’s weaknesses. This not only increases efficiency but also promotes learning and personal growth.

Additionally, cooperation plays a crucial role in building strong relationships between individuals. When people work together towards a common goal, they develop a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose, which leads to stronger bonds. Whether it is in the workplace or within families and friendships, cooperation fosters trust and understanding, creating a more harmonious society.

Competition: Driving Progress

Competition can be defined as the process of striving for success or superiority over others through one’s performance or abilities. While competition is often viewed in a negative light, it is an essential aspect of human nature that drives progress and innovation.

When individuals compete with each other, they are driven to improve their skills and abilities to surpass their opponents. This leads to continuous growth and development, pushing individuals to reach their full potential. Competition can also be a source of motivation for individuals, encouraging them to work harder and achieve better results.

In the business world, competition drives companies to develop new products and services, leading to economic growth and job creation. Similarly, in sports or academics, healthy competition fosters excellence and pushes individuals to strive for success.

Striking a Balance between Cooperation & Competition

As with any two opposing forces, cooperation and competition must be balanced for society’s overall benefit. While cooperation promotes social harmony and strong relationships, competition drives progress and innovation. A society that solely values one over the other will struggle to thrive.

In today’s world, it is crucial to strike a balance between cooperation and competition. Individuals must learn to work together towards common goals while also striving for personal growth and success. This balance can lead to a harmonious and progressive society where individuals support each other’s achievements while continuously pushing boundaries.

In conclusion, cooperation and competition are two essential concepts that shape our society. While cooperation fosters strong relationships and allows us to achieve more significant feats together, competition drives progress and motivates individuals towards success. Striking a balance between these two forces is crucial for creating a harmonious and thriving community.

Short Essay on Cooperation:

Cooperation is an essential aspect of human society, which involves individuals or groups working together towards a common goal. It plays a significant role in our daily lives and is vital for the overall development of any community.

One of the primary benefits of cooperation is that it promotes unity among people. When individuals come together to work cooperatively, they tend to focus on their similarities rather than differences, creating a sense of togetherness and camaraderie. This leads to the formation of strong social bonds, which are crucial for building a harmonious society.

Moreover, cooperation also leads to increased efficiency and productivity. By collaborating with each other, individuals can share their knowledge and skills, complementing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This not only makes tasks easier to accomplish but also ensures better results. In a society where people cooperate with each other, there is a higher chance of advancement and progress.

Cooperation also plays a vital role in resolving conflicts and promoting peace. When people work together towards a common goal, they develop mutual understanding and respect for each other. This helps in reducing misunderstandings and disagreements, leading to a more peaceful coexistence.

In addition to its social benefits, cooperation is also essential for economic growth. Businesses that foster a culture of collaboration among employees tend to be more successful as compared to those that promote competition. Cooperation leads to better problem-solving and decision-making skills, which are crucial in the business world.

To conclude, cooperation is an integral part of human society, promoting unity, productivity, peace, and economic growth. It is a valuable asset that should be nurtured and encouraged in all aspects of our lives for the betterment of ourselves and society as a whole. So, cooperation is crucial for the overall development of an individual as well as a community.

Individuals must understand the value of cooperation and work towards fostering it in their personal and professional relationships for a more harmonious and successful society. Let us remember that together we can achieve much more than what we can accomplish alone.

Essay on Cooperation Leads to Success:

Cooperation is often viewed as a key factor in achieving success, whether it be in our personal lives or in society as a whole. It involves individuals working together towards a common goal, pooling their resources and skills to overcome obstacles and achieve great things.

One of the main reasons why cooperation leads to success is because it brings people with different strengths and perspectives together. In today’s world, it is nearly impossible for one person to possess all the knowledge and skills needed to accomplish a task on their own. By collaborating with others who have different backgrounds and expertise, we are able to tap into a wider range of ideas and solutions.

Furthermore, cooperation fosters a sense of trust and camaraderie among individuals. When we work together towards a shared goal, we develop a sense of unity and understanding. This leads to stronger relationships, both personally and professionally. In turn, this creates a positive work environment where people feel supported and motivated to give their best efforts.

In addition, cooperation allows for the division of labor, enabling tasks to be completed more efficiently. By splitting up responsibilities among team members based on their strengths, it reduces the workload and ensures that each person is contributing in a meaningful way. This not only increases productivity but also prevents burnout and promotes better work-life balance.

Cooperation also plays a crucial role in problem-solving and decision-making. When faced with challenges or difficult decisions, working together allows for different perspectives to be considered. This leads to more well-rounded solutions that may not have been possible if each person had tackled the issue alone. Additionally, when decisions are made collectively, it creates a sense of ownership and accountability among team members.

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In conclusion, cooperation is essential for achieving success in any aspect of life. It allows us to harness the power of teamwork and utilize each individual’s strengths to overcome obstacles and reach our goals. By fostering trust, promoting efficiency, and encouraging diverse perspectives, cooperation paves the way for greater achievements and a more harmonious society overall.

Q: What is a short paragraph on cooperation?

A: Cooperation is the act of individuals or groups working together to achieve common goals. It involves collaboration, communication, and shared efforts, leading to increased efficiency and the ability to overcome challenges collectively.

Q: Why is cooperation important in life?

A: Cooperation is essential in life because it promotes unity, fosters teamwork, and enables people to achieve more collectively than they can individually. It strengthens relationships, resolves conflicts, and contributes to personal and societal well-being.

Q: What is cooperation and why is it important?

A: Cooperation is the act of individuals or groups working harmoniously to achieve shared objectives. It’s important because it enhances efficiency, encourages synergy, and is the foundation for social progress and achieving common aspirations.

Q: What are the 10 benefits of cooperation?

A: 1. Enhanced problem-solving and creativity.

• Strengthened relationships and trust.
• Increased productivity and efficiency.
• Resource sharing and cost reduction.
• Collective learning and knowledge exchange.
• Conflict resolution and reduced tension.
• Improved communication and collaboration.
• Mutual support and emotional well-being.
• Greater societal and economic progress.
• Enhanced global peace and diplomacy.

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Essays About Cooperation: Top 5 Examples and 10 Prompts

Cooperation is vital to the achievement of common goals in any society. Below are examples and prompts on essays about cooperation.

Cooperation refers to the action of working together. The spirit of cooperation rose as far back as our early ancestors when they shared hunting, fishing, and farming practices to help each other survive. Cooperation is essential in furthering development in any field as it enables collective action toward positive outcomes that benefit many. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much,” as g the widely used quote by American Writer and Educator Helen Keller. 

Here are our top picks of rich, well-written essays on cooperation:

Top 5 Essay Examples About Cooperation

1. when to cooperate with colleagues and when to compete by randall s. peterson and kristin j. behfar, 2. from conflict to cooperation: building stronger cross cultural teams by michael henman, 3. how to… cooperate by guy browning, 4. what the world’s most sociable people reveal about friendliness by david robson, 5.  the cooperative movement in the philippines by preeti sancheti, 1. benefits of starting cooperation at home, 2. environmental cooperation, 3. cooperation in a pandemic, 4. cooperative behavior in animals, 5. international cooperation, 6. encouraging students to cooperate, 7. dealing with uncooperative school project members, 8. cooperation vs. competition, 9. cooperation vs. collaboration, 10. illegal forms of cooperation.

“We have seen how easy it is to view relationships as simply negative or positive. Virtually all are a mix of both and require careful thought to manage. To do so effectively, you must first understand where you and your colleagues fall on the conflict-collaboration spectrum.”

The writers aim to help workers determine the degree of cooperativeness or competitiveness in their relationships with colleagues. By providing real-life case scenarios and workarounds, the essay also helps workers handle difficult situations maturely to further company goals while preserving self-interests such as promotion. 

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“Running a team these days is a different endeavor than it was in the past due to the emergence of cross cultural teams. The usual challenges of team building and fostering teamwork have become even more magnified.”

The author shares the sentiment of businesses dealing with cross-cultural teams, a norm today in our globalized world. The essay provides tips to ensure that the spirit of cooperation remains burning. These tips include respecting and promoting respect for cultural differences, establishing norms, developing a team identity, “overcommunicating,” and building rapport and trust.

“An essential part of cooperation therefore is a little give and take. This doesn’t mean they give and you take. Rather, it means everyone making a few compromises.”

Browning believes that cooperation is not part of human nature, citing how we even require contracts to put it in force. But to nurture cooperative behavior, which has its benefits, the authors advise everyone to listen intently to others and be amenable to making compromises from time to time. You can also check out these essays about business .

“It is a profound idea that… humans began to take their evolution into their own hands, turning us into the uniquely cooperative animals we are today. Williams syndrome may affect just one in thousands of people, but by inspiring this research, its traits might help us understand the social instincts in all of us.”

Researchers find hope in finding the origins of human cooperation through a rare syndrome that makes people highly sociable. Research on the syndrome gave rise to a discovery that could offer insights into the evolutionary process that led to developing friendliness and collaborative behavior.

“The cooperative movement is built on the principles of cooperation… This structure holds promise, especially when applied to risk management, and I hope to leverage this principle as we design new solutions that benefit members and which are sustainable for the institution.” 

The essay takes tremendous interest in cooperatives in the Philippines, elaborating on how these groups operate. Cooperatives, groups that mobilize to offer programs that serve the economic, social, cultural, and spiritual development of their members, are based on the concept of “bayanihan” – an early traditional practice in the Philippines where communities work together to move tiny Filipino houses to places to avoid danger in an area. 

10 Writing Prompts On Essays About Cooperation

Find below our list of relevant and exciting prompts:

Nurturing cooperation at home becomes not just a place to live but a place to build your character. So, first, share how cooperation is being promoted at your home. Then, list the benefits that could redound to society if cooperation is practiced at home.

With the urgent problems in our environment today, cooperative actions must also focus on protecting the environment. In your essay, discuss how our community unifies to address and prevent further environmental degradation. However, suppose you want to look into the bigger picture. In that case, you may also discuss the level of cooperation in national or global environmental efforts.

There’s no better time to work together than when fighting a pandemic. For this prompt, look into cooperative actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, or in past pandemics you have read about. Pick out and discuss inspiring case examples where efforts were mobilized. For example, different actors in society collaborated to respond to the urgent needs of the times, such as providing protective gear to frontline staff or helping those who lost their jobs to recover. In your essay, you can discuss examples from citizens who stepped up to help during the height of the pandemic.

Cooperation is standard behavior in animals, with manifestations most prevalent in how they hunt and live in groups. Your essay could answer the primary reasons behind this behavior, elaborate on the cooperative practices of animals and draw similarities between human and animal instincts and experiences in cooperation.

International cooperation has been largely perceived as vital in tackling pressing global issues, such as poverty, climate change, health, and security. You may also focus on international organizations founded on cooperative objectives, such as the United Nations (UN). The UN was born right after World War II to bring peace and prosperity to all. Research on what international multilateral agreements have resulted from international cooperation and tackle the outcomes of these deals so far. 

Fostering cooperative behavior early in life is beneficial for developing one’s social and interpersonal competence. However, teaching the value of cooperation to students could be challenging at times. Think of ways how schools could mold cooperation in the classrooms. Look into current best practices and offer these as recommendations. 

We’ve all had our encounters with uncooperative group members. It is unfair to think they could get the same grade we worked hard for without a minimal contribution. Narrate your encounter with such an uncooperative school project member or partner. Write about how you dealt with the situation and what tips you recommend to those experiencing the same. 

Competition concerns individual interests, while cooperation focuses on shared goals. Yet, humans are inherently competitive, how can one encourage cooperation for a common goal? Your essay can answer this question and add more points to the difference between these two concepts.

These words are used interchangeably, but how could they be different? You could discuss their differences based on the context of how others use these words. Or, if you are a linguistical geek, you may want to look into their etymological origins and evolution.   

Some forms of illegal cooperation include cartels. These practices go against many competition or anti-trust laws in many countries as these illegal activities could restrict the supply of goods and raise prices to the detriment of consumers and the principles of fair market competition. You may want to tackle cartels in your essay or another form of illegal cooperation, such as organized criminal groups. 

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers . To ensure organization in your essay’s structure, check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays .

Mutual Cooperation Essays

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Igorot Binnadang: The Spirit of Mutual Aid and Community Cooperation

Explore the Igorot Binnadang Spirit, a tradition deeply rooted in mutual aid and community cooperation.

Nov 7, 2023  |  10 min read

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Igorot Binnadang isn't just a word; it's a way of life. It's a tradition deeply rooted in mutual aid and community cooperation for the Igorot people of the Cordillera region in the Philippines. In this close-knit community, the Binnadang Spirit means more than a cultural practice; it's a lifeline. It embodies their shared belief that everyone should help each other, especially during times of need.

The Igorot people are known for their rich culture and strong sense of community. They've integrated the Binnadang Spirit into their lives. It's more than just words and actions; it's a mindset, an ethos. "Binnadang" isn't just another word for "bayanihan" in Tagalog; it carries deeper cultural significance for the Igorot people.

The Binnadang Spirit reflects their core values : the importance of communal bonds, reciprocity, and solidarity. It's a practice interwoven with their daily existence, shaping their interactions and their support for one another during life's significant events. To understand the Igorot people and their culture, you need to explore the heart of Igorot Binnadang and the principles it embodies.

In this article, we'll delve into Igorot Binnadang's essence and the vital role of the Binnadang Spirit in Igorot culture. We'll uncover the historical roots of this tradition and how it has evolved over the years. We'll also explore the practical manifestations of Binnadang in Igorot communities, focusing on communal workdays, mutual aid, and support during pivotal life moments. Igorot Binnadang is more than a tradition; it symbolizes unity and resilience, and its significance in their lives is immeasurable.

Historical Roots and Evolution

The Binnadang Spirit, simply known as "Binnadang" in the Kankana-ey language and referred to as "ubbu," "ub-ubbo," "ob-obfo", "og-ogfo", "aduyon", or "abbuyog", in other Igorot ethnic groups, is a shared cultural tradition deeply ingrained in Igorot culture. It represents a spirit of mutual aid and cooperation, where individuals come together to help one another in times of need without expecting anything in return.

This enduring tradition has a rich history that reflects the Igorot people's commitment to preserving their culture and values. Over the years, the Binnadang Spirit has adapted and evolved while remaining a fundamental part of their shared heritage. It serves as a vital link to their core beliefs and provides a sense of continuity and resilience.

The Igorot people have faced various challenges and changes throughout their history, and the Binnadang Spirit has been a guiding light, helping them overcome obstacles. It seamlessly integrates with Cordillera culture, evolving to meet the needs of the times without losing its essential character. This cultural resilience, embodied in the Binnadang Spirit, underscores the enduring strength of the Igorot people and their commitment to their community.

The Igorot community's deep-rooted tradition of Binnadang is a testament to their unity and resilience, and its significance in their lives is immeasurable.

The Meaning of Binnadang: Understanding "Bayanihan"

In Igorot culture, "Binnadang" carries a profound significance. It's more than just a word; it's a reflection of their values and way of life. While "Binnadang" is often translated as "bayanihan" in Tagalog, it holds unique cultural importance for the Igorot people.

Defining Binnadang

Binnadang represents a deep sense of mutual aid and community cooperation. It signifies a commitment to helping one another, particularly in times of need. This commitment extends beyond mere physical assistance; it embodies a shared responsibility and a profound connection within the community. Notably, those who lend a hand in Binnadang don't expect anything in return. Their assistance is driven by a selfless desire to support their fellow community members and uplift each other.

Distinction from "Bayanihan"

Now, let's address the question of "Bayanihan." While both terms share common principles of mutual assistance, "Binnadang" is uniquely Igorot. It transcends mere translations and encapsulates the Igorot way of life, reflecting their specific cultural values and beliefs.

Cultural Significance and the Tradition of Mutual Aid

The term "mutual aid tradition" embodies the essence of Binnadang. It signifies people coming together to support each other, creating a robust and resilient community. The traditions and practices associated with Binnadang vividly demonstrate this concept in action, underscoring its profound cultural importance within the Igorot community. Essentially, "Binnadang" stands as a living testament to the strength of their bonds, the unwavering commitment to one another, and the uplifting nature of their assistance, all given without expecting anything in return.

Practical Manifestations of Binnadang

In the everyday lives of Igorot communities, the Binnadang Spirit is not merely a concept; it's a living practice that reflects their values and unity. This tradition finds practical expression in several key areas, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to community cooperation.

Community Workdays

One prominent manifestation of the Binnadang Spirit is the tradition of community workdays. Igorot communities come together to assist each other in various tasks, including planting and harvesting crops, building houses, and repairing roads and bridges. This collective effort showcases the power of community cooperation, where individuals work as one to achieve common goals.

Mutual aid is at the heart of the Binnadang Spirit. When a family member or neighbor is in need, Igorots are quick to offer their assistance. This can take many forms, from providing financial help to sharing food or offering labor. The practice of mutual aid reinforces their strong sense of community and the principle that no one should face challenges alone.

Community Support During Life Events

Igorots uphold the Binnadang tradition by supporting each other during significant life events, such as funerals, weddings, and other pivotal moments. This support takes various forms, including providing food, transportation, or financial assistance. It's a testament to the enduring importance of the Binnadang Spirit in their lives and how community cooperation is deeply ingrained in their culture.

The Binnadang Spirit is more than a concept; it's a tangible part of daily life in Igorot communities. These practical manifestations underscore its significance and highlight their strong sense of community cooperation, reinforcing their bonds and their commitment to supporting one another.

Relevance in the Modern World

The Binnadang Spirit's significance transcends time and remains highly relevant in addressing contemporary challenges. In a world marked by change and complexity, this tradition showcases its adaptability and enduring value. Here are examples of how the Binnadang Spirit remains relevant in the modern world:

Disaster Relief Efforts

In times of natural disasters or crises, the Igorot people, inspired by the Binnadang Spirit, mobilize quickly to provide aid to affected communities. They offer assistance such as shelter, food, and medical support, showcasing the adaptability of this tradition to address urgent challenges.

Community Development Projects

The Binnadang Spirit has also found resonance with organizations like the PNP Cordillera, which have adopted these principles. They actively participate in community development projects, including building houses, harvesting, carrying crops from farms, planting, and assisting in various tasks. This collaboration emphasizes the power of community cooperation and mutual aid in achieving common goals.

Financial Support, Fundraising, and Blood Donations

The Binnadang Spirit extends to seeking financial support online for various purposes, such as medical emergencies, educational needs, and other essential requirements. In addition, community members actively engage in fundraising activities to provide financial assistance in times of need. Furthermore, the Binnadang Spirit is reflected in voluntary blood donations within the Igorot community, emphasizing the importance of saving lives.

Moral Support in Times of Need

Beyond financial and medical aid, the Binnadang Spirit also manifests through the provision of moral support. When community members face challenging situations, they offer emotional assistance and encouragement, underscoring the strength of their bonds.

The Binnadang Spirit continues to thrive, reinforcing the importance of community, cooperation, and resilience, not only in the face of natural disasters but also in addressing contemporary challenges, including online fundraising, blood donations, and emotional support in times of need.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the significance of Igorot Binnadang in the Cordillera region?

Igorot Binnadang holds immense cultural importance in the Cordillera region. It reflects the values of mutual aid, community cooperation, and solidarity among the Igorot people.

2. How does the Binnadang Spirit differ from the concept of "bayanihan" in the Philippines?

While both concepts share principles of mutual assistance, Binnadang is uniquely Igorot, deeply rooted in their specific cultural values and beliefs.

3. Are there specific rituals or ceremonies associated with the practice of Binnadang?

Binnadang is more of a way of life and a mindset rather than a set of rituals or ceremonies. It encompasses everyday actions that showcase mutual aid and community cooperation.

4. How has Binnadang evolved over the years to remain relevant in modern times?

The Binnadang Spirit has adapted to address contemporary challenges, including disaster relief efforts, community development projects, online fundraising, blood donations, and moral support.

5. Can people from outside the Igorot community participate in Binnadang or contribute to its practices?

The spirit of Binnadang is about unity and mutual support. While it's deeply ingrained in Igorot culture, people from outside the community can participate by supporting relevant initiatives or engaging in acts of mutual aid and cooperation.

6. What are the core values that underlie the Binnadang Spirit?

The core values of Binnadang include communal bonds, reciprocity, and solidarity. It signifies a commitment to helping one another, particularly in times of need, without expecting anything in return.

7. How can I learn more about Igorot culture and Binnadang practices?

You can explore books, articles, and documentaries about Igorot culture and traditions. Engaging with the Igorot community or visiting the Cordillera region can also provide valuable insights. Additionally, you can join Igorotage, the biggest online community of Igorot, where you can connect with others, participate in discussions, and learn more about the Igorot people and their rich culture.

In Igorot culture, the Binnadang Spirit is a powerful reminder of their community values, cooperation, and resilience. It's more than just a tradition; it's a lifeline that ties the Igorot people to their history and strong bonds. While the world changes rapidly, the Binnadang Spirit remains a steadfast example of how important cultural traditions can be.

The Igorot people have faced many challenges over time, and the Binnadang Spirit has helped them through it all. Its ability to adapt while sticking to its core principles shows the Igorot people's strong commitment to their community and their resilience. This teaches us the importance of preserving and celebrating our cultural heritage.

As we navigate today's complex world, the lessons from the Binnadang Spirit hold true. They encourage us to come together in unity, support each other in times of need, and promote understanding. By embracing these lessons and supporting each other, we can build a better and more harmonious future, not just in the Igorot community but in societies worldwide. The Binnadang Spirit is a lasting source of inspiration, reminding us of the strength we find in unity and the deep significance of our shared humanity.

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• Published: 09 July 2018

The cooperative human

Nature Human Behaviour volume  2 ,  pages 427–428 ( 2018 ) Cite this article

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• Anthropology
• Environmental sciences
• Human behaviour
• Neuroscience
• Social evolution

Human beings are a social species that relies on cooperation to survive and thrive. Understanding how and why cooperation succeeds or fails is integral to solving the many global challenges we face.

Cooperation lies at the heart of human lives and society — from day-to-day interactions to some of our greatest endeavours. Understanding cooperation — what motivates it, how it develops, how it happens and when it fails to happen — is therefore an important part of understanding all kinds of human behaviour. In this focus issue of Nature Human Behaviour , we bring together review, opinion and research content on human cooperation from across the journal’s scope — including evolution, anthropology, ecology, economics, neuroscience and environmental science — to spark interdisciplinary conversation and perhaps even inspire some scientific cooperation. In our dedicated collection on cooperation ( https://www.nature.com/collections/gvmywthghh ), we combine new commissioned content with work from our archive that exemplifies the breadth of enquiry in this important interdisciplinary field.

Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision/Getty

Why do we cooperate at all, when choosing the selfish option may seem like the most logical and rewarding in a competitive world? A Review by Hilbe et al. discusses the recent formal theoretical work on partnership versus rivalry in social dilemmas and argues that rivalry tends to develop in smaller populations with limited numbers of interactions, while more frequent interactions encourage cooperation to emerge as an evolutionarily stable strategy. Modelling work by Jagau and van Veelen 1 we published last year also found evidence for multiple stable states of cooperation, showing, in contrast to previous work, how flexible, deliberative strategies can evolve. Of course, many other species have made a success out of cooperation, and a Comment by Brosnan makes the case for a comparative economics approach to uncover cooperation’s evolutionary path.

We can also interrogate the mechanisms and motives behind cooperation by observing how it happens in practice. In a Review, Fehr and Schurtenberger evaluate the experimental literature for evidence of a fixed social norm of conditional cooperation supported by peer punishment, which, they argue, can account for multiple recurring patterns of human behaviour seen in cooperative contexts. In future, we may gain an even more precise understanding of individual motives in these types of cooperative experiments, by directly observing neural responses during game play, as argued in a Comment by Declerck and colleagues .

Successful cooperation requires not only cooperative choices, but also a way to signal your intent and good qualities to potential partners. A Perspective by Bliege-Bird and colleagues examines the subtle signalling that people deploy to solidify their long-term cooperative relationships, using the practice of sharing catches after lizard hunts among Martu hunter-gatherer women as a case study. The most successful hunters share out, subtly, the meat with all, strengthening their reciprocal bonds and distributing the burden of resource scarcity risks. This chimes with a Comment by Aktipis et al. , who suggest that the evolutionary concept of ‘fitness interdependence’ between individuals for survival and reproduction could be adopted as a framework across disciplines to understand why cooperation is so integral to our lifeways.

Even in difficult situations, the desire for cooperation would appear to often be nascent and the evidence suggests that we are naturals at it, given the opportunity.

The Martu example is a system of trust and shared risk that speaks to some of the most pressing issues that humans face today globally, that is, the sharing of risk and the ‘trust’ needed to take collective action. In a previous issue, Koomen and Herrmann 2 showed that children as young as six years old can spontaneously find ways to collaborate to maintain a shared, limited resource. And indeed, a 2017 review of the literature by McAuliffe et al. 3 provided ample evidence that children acquire notions of fairness from a surprisingly early age. However, we know all too well from observing the real world that coordination among adults often fails. Gächter et al. 4 provided partial insight into why this might be, showing that adult participants contribute more when establishing a new collective good, but contribute much less to maintain an existing resource. Muthukrishna et al. 5 showed that typical anti-corruption strategies may have negative impacts on cooperation, depending on the cultural context. These findings are a caution that the levers we apply to encourage cooperation should be tailored to context.

How can we nurture cooperation for the common good? In experiments run by Grossmann et al. 6 , the authors found that they could induce participants to engage in ‘wise reasoning’ to avert making automatic, selfish decisions. In a Comment, Dannenberg and Barrett note that cooperation often fails when individuals are uncertain about the relative importance of their own effect on a critical, environmental threshold, and argue, through successful examples, such as the Montreal Protocol, that institutions must make cooperation the more attractive option. In a similar vein, Castilla-Rho et al. 7 presented a model that identifies the ‘tipping points’ at which groundwater conservation becomes a widely accepted social norm across diverse cultural settings, which can be used by conservation managers to predict the most effective interventions.

Finally, some of the seemingly most intractable cooperation problems in the world today are the conflicts between rival nations and different political, religious or ethnic groups. However, Fotouhi et al. show that a strong barrier to cooperation is simple lack of communication and suggest that promoting even sparse interconnections between previously segregated societies can support the evolution of cooperation globally. Even in difficult situations, the desire for cooperation would appear to often be nascent and the evidence suggests that we are naturals at it, given the opportunity.

Some powerful theories and empirical insights have expanded our knowledge of cooperation over the past few decades — but much remains to be understood. Integrating questions and approaches from different fields may provide fertile ground to achieve this. We look forward to publishing theoretical and empirical research on cooperation in the future that will push the boundaries of the field even further.

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The cooperative human. Nat Hum Behav 2 , 427–428 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-018-0389-1

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Why people choose to cooperate, according to behavioral science

People stop their cars simply because a little light turns from green to red. They crowd onto buses, trains and planes with complete strangers, yet fights seldom break out. Large, strong men routinely walk right past smaller, weaker ones without demanding their valuables. People pay their taxes and donate to food banks and other charities.

Most of us give little thought to these everyday examples of cooperation. But to biologists, they’re remarkable — most animals don’t behave that way.

“Even the least cooperative human groups are more cooperative than our closest cousins, chimpanzees and bonobos,” says  Michael Muthukrishna , a behavioral scientist at the London School of Economics. Chimps don’t tolerate strangers, Muthukrishna says, and even young children are a lot more generous than a chimp.

Human cooperation takes some explaining — after all, people who act cooperatively should be vulnerable to exploitation by others. Yet in societies around the world, people cooperate to their mutual benefit. Scientists are making headway in understanding the conditions that foster cooperation, research that seems essential as an interconnected world grapples with climate change, partisan politics and more — problems that can be addressed only through large-scale cooperation.

READ MORE: Analysis: Why some people are willing to challenge behavior they see as wrong despite personal risk

Behavioral scientists’ formal definition of cooperation involves paying a personal cost (for example, contributing to charity) to gain a collective benefit (a social safety net). But freeloaders enjoy the same benefit without paying the cost, so all else being equal, freeloading should be an individual’s best choice — and, therefore, we should all be freeloaders eventually.

Many millennia of evolution acting on both our genes and our cultural practices have equipped people with ways of getting past that obstacle, says Muthukrishna, who coauthored a look at the  evolution of cooperation  in the 2021  Annual Review of Psychology.  This cultural-genetic coevolution stacked the deck in human society so that cooperation became the smart move rather than a sucker’s choice. Over thousands of years, that has allowed us to live in villages, towns and cities; work together to build farms, railroads and other communal projects; and develop educational systems and governments.

Evolution has enabled all this by shaping us to value the unwritten rules of society, to feel outrage when someone else breaks those rules and, crucially, to care what others think about us.

“Over the long haul, human psychology has been modified so that we’re able to feel emotions that make us identify with the goals of social groups,” says Rob Boyd , an evolutionary anthropologist at the Institute for Human Origins at Arizona State University.

For a demonstration of this, one need look no further than a simple lab experiment that psychologists call the dictator game. In this game, researchers give a sum of money to one person (the dictator) and tell them they can split the money however they’d like with an unknown other person whom they will never meet. Even though no overt rule prohibits them from keeping all the money themselves, many people’s innate sense of fairness leads them to split the money 50-50 . Cultures differ in how often this happens, but even societies where the sense of fairness is weakest still choose a fair split fairly often.

Researchers offered a reward, such as money, to volunteers from eight different societies, then offered them the chance to give half to another person they didn’t know and would never meet. Before making a decision, participants watched one of three videos in which an adult from their community expressed whether sharing or not-sharing was good or bad, or if both were OK. People chose to share more often in societies that judged it as correct. Societies tested were four industrialized cities: Berlin (Germany), La Plata (Argentina), Phoenix (Arizona) and Pune (India) and four small-scale traditional societies: the Shuar (Ecuador), Wichí (Argentina), Tanna (Vanuatu) and Hadza (Tanzania).

Lab experiments such as this, together with field studies, are giving psychologists a better understanding of the psychological factors that underpin when, and why, people cooperate. Here are some of the essential takeaways:

We cooperate for different reasons at different social scales

For very small groups, family bonds and direct reciprocity — I’ll help you today, on the expectation that you will help me tomorrow — may provide enough impetus for cooperation. But that works only if everyone knows one another and interacts frequently, says Muthukrishna. When a group gets big enough that people often interact with someone they’ve never dealt with before, reputation can substitute for direct experience. In these conditions, individuals are more likely to risk cooperating with others who have a reputation for doing their share.

Once a group gets so large that people can no longer count on knowing someone’s reputation , though, cooperation depends on a less personal force: the informal rules of behavior known as norms. Norms represent a culture’s expectations about how one should behave, how one should and shouldn’t act. Breaking a norm — whether by littering, jumping a subway turnstile or expressing overt racism — exposes violators to social disapproval that may range from a gentle “tut-tut” to social ostracism. People also tend to internalize their culture’s norms and generally adhere to them even when there is no prospect of punishment — as seen, for example, in the dictator game.

But there may be a limit to the power of norms, says Erez Yoeli , a behavioral scientist at the MIT Sloan School of Management. The enforcement of norms depends on social disapproval of violators, so they work only within social groups. Since nations are the largest groups that most people identify strongly with, that may make norms relatively toothless in developing international cooperation for issues such as climate change.

“The problem isn’t owned by a single group, so it’s kind of a race to the bottom,” says Yoeli. Social skills that go beyond cooperation, and psychological tools other than norms, may be more important in working through global problems, he speculates. “These are the ones we struggle a bit to solve.”

Reputation is more powerful than financial incentives in encouraging cooperation

Almost a decade ago, Yoeli and his colleagues trawled through the published literature to see what worked and what didn’t at encouraging prosocial behavior. Financial incentives such as contribution-matching or cash, or rewards for participating, such as offering T-shirts for blood donors, sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t, they found. In contrast, reputational rewards — making individuals’ cooperative behavior public — consistently boosted participation . The result has held up in the years since. “If anything, the results are stronger,” says Yoeli.

Financial rewards will work if you pay people enough, Yoeli notes — but the cost of such incentives could be prohibitive. One study of 782 German residents, for example, surveyed whether paying people to receive a Covid vaccine would increase vaccine uptake. It did, but researchers found that boosting vaccination rates significantly would have required a payment of at least 3,250 euros — a dauntingly steep price.

And payoffs can actually diminish the reputational rewards people could otherwise gain for cooperative behavior, because others may be unsure whether the person was acting out of altruism or just doing it for the money. “Financial rewards kind of muddy the water about people’s motivations,” says Yoeli. “That undermines any reputational benefit from doing the deed.”

Gossip plays a lead role in enforcing norms

When people see someone breaking a norm — for example, by freeloading when cooperation was expected — they have three ways to punish the violation, says Catherine Molho , a psychologist at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: They can confront the offender directly about their transgression; they can shun that person in the future; or they can tell others about the offender’s bad behavior. The latter response — gossip, or the sharing of information about a third party when they are not present — may have unique strengths, says Molho.

READ MORE : Making people aware of their implicit biases doesn’t usually change minds. But here’s what does work

The clearest example of this comes from an online experiment led by Molho’s colleague Paul Van Lange , a behavioral scientist also at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The study used a standard lab procedure called a public goods game, in which each participant receives a sum of money and can choose to contribute none, some or all of it to a shared pool. The experimenters then double the money in the shared pool and divide it equally among all participants, whether they contributed or not. The group as a whole maximizes their earnings if everyone puts all their money in the pool — but a freeloader could do even better, by keeping their own cash and reaping a share of what others put in the pool.

Crucially, people played the game not just once but four times, with different partners each time. Between rounds, some participants had an opportunity to punish freeloaders from their most recent group by paying some of their own money to the experimenters, who would fine the freeloader three times the amount of that payment. Others were given the chance to gossip — that is, to tell members of the freeloaders’ new group that they had failed to cooperate. Sure enough, the gossip led to higher levels of cooperation — but, surprisingly, direct punishment did not, the researchers found.

In each round of a repeated “public goods game,” participants had a chance to contribute some or all of their funds for the common good, or selfishly keep it for themselves. People contributed more when others had an opportunity to gossip between rounds about participants’ earlier behavior, researchers found.

People use the power of gossip in the real world, too. In one recent study, Molho and her colleagues texted 309 volunteers at four random times each day for 10 days to ask if they had shared information with others in their social network, or received information from them, about someone else. If so, a follow-up questionnaire gathered more information.

The 309 participants reported more than 5,000 total instances of gossip over that time, and about 15 percent were about norm violations such as tossing trash in the street or making racist or sexist comments. People tended to gossip more with closer friends, and about more distant acquaintances. Gossip recipients reported that this negative information made them less likely to help the untrustworthy and more likely to avoid them .

“One reason gossip is such a powerful tool is you can accomplish many social functions,” says Molho. “You feel closer to the person who shared information with you. But we also find it provides useful information for social interaction — I learn who to cooperate with and who to avoid.”

And gossip serves another function, too, says Van Lange: Gossipers can sort through their feelings about whether a norm violation is important, whether there were mitigating circumstances and what response is appropriate. This helps reinforce the social norms and can help people coordinate their response to offenders, he says.

We like being on trend — and on the cutting edge

Some well-meaning ways of encouraging cooperation don’t work — and may even backfire. In particular, telling people what others actually do (“Most people are trying to reduce how often they fly”) is more effective than telling them what they should do (“You should fly less — it’s bad for the climate”). In fact, the “should” message sometimes backfires. “People may read something behind the message,” says Cristina Bicchieri , a behavioral scientist at the University of Pennsylvania: Telling someone they should do something may signal that people don’t, in fact, do it.

Bicchieri and her colleague Erte Xiao tested this in a dictator game where some participants were told that other people shared equally, while others were told that people thought everyone should share equally. Only the first message increased the likelihood of an equal share , they found.

That result makes sense, says Yoeli. “It sends a very clear message about social expectations: If everybody else is doing this, it sends a very credible signal about what they expect me to do.”

In a classic study from 2008, researchers tested different messages to encourage hotel guests to reuse their towels instead of getting freshly laundered ones each day. The message that referred to how most people behave in the same situation led more guests to take this environmentally friendly action.

This poses a problem, of course, if most people don’t actually choose a socially desirable behavior, such as installing solar panels. “If you just say that 15 percent do that, you normalize the fact that 85 percent don’t,” says Bicchieri. But there’s a work-around: It turns out that even a minority can nudge people toward a desired behavior if the number is increasing, thus providing a trendy bandwagon to hop on. In one experiment, for example, researchers measured the amount of water volunteers used while brushing their teeth. People who had been told that a small but increasing proportion of people were conserving water used less water than those who heard only that a small proportion conserved.

Much remains unknown

Behavioral scientists are just beginning to crack the problem of cooperation, and many questions remain. In particular, very little is known yet about why cultures hold the norms that they do, or how norms change over time. “There’s a lot of ideas about the within-group processes that cause norms to be replaced, but there’s not much consensus,” says Boyd, who is working on the problem now.

Everyone does agree that, eventually, natural selection will determine the outcome, as cultures whose norms do not enhance survival die out and are replaced by those with norms that do. But that’s not a test most of us would be willing to take.

This article originally appeared in Knowable Magazine , an independent journalistic endeavor from Annual Reviews.

10.1146/knowable-032923-1

Bob Holmes is a science writer based in Edmonton, Canada.

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The Benefits of Cooperation at Work: Why Getting Along Matters

Posted April 30, 2024

Humans just don’t excel at surviving in the wild alone. We have no claws, horns, fangs, shells, or spikes. What we do have is each other—and a far higher chance of survival when we practice cooperation in groups. Our instincts for cooperation at work and elsewhere stems from our group-living ancestors who passed down their cooperative genes. To be a successful group member, we need to get along with our fellow group members, at least to some degree. This viewpoint from evolutionary theory helps explain the importance of getting along at work.

Nearly all meaningful work is accomplished in teams, which are three or more people who share a common goal. 1 Cooperation is a choice to contribute individual effort toward mutual benefit. It involves committing time, skills, and expertise toward group goals. An example would be a software development team that builds an app for a demographic sector they don’t belong to, such as healthcare providers. The app doesn’t intrinsically benefit the developers. Instead, their earnings depend on the product they create via team cooperation.

This article will cover why we cooperate, as well as the benefits of cooperation at work, including status, acceptance, engagement, and performance.

Why We Cooperate

The reasons why we cooperate with each other—our drive to get along—are addressed in socioanalytic theory. Socioanalytic theory claims that three universal motives lie at the root of human behavior: (1) getting along, (2) getting ahead, and (3) finding meaning. Getting along, or cooperation, relates to our desire to gain attention, approval, and acceptance. 3 Social acceptance is so central to human affairs that people will live or die in pursuit of it.

Humans cooperate because we are inherently social beings. We live in groups; therefore, we are motivated to get along with others. Other people provide the in-group belonging that we all seek in the form of social approval. Being able to cooperate successfully means being aware of our performance in the context of other people’s performance. The work we do and the way we do it affect the work of others on our team and whether the team achieves its goals.

Getting along well requires a certain degree of socioemotional skills, including self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

Self-Awareness and Reputation

We have two ways to view personality —from the inside and the outside. The inside view is called identity, which is someone’s perception of themselves. The outside view is called reputation, which is made of everyone else’s perception of that person. Reputation is formed during social exchange, when we evaluate each other’s behavior. 2

How we seem to others affects how likely we are to get along in a group, and being aware of how others perceive us can help us manage our behavior to improve our ability to get along. Personality assessment can help us build this awareness. At Hogan, we use personality assessment to measure the degree to which a person seems considerate, perceptive, and socially sensitive. Interpersonal Sensitivity, the scale that assesses these characteristics, is one of seven scales on the Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI) , which provides insights about everyday personality strengths.

All levels of Interpersonal Sensitivity have benefits and drawbacks depending on social context:

• Low Interpersonal Sensitivity – A communication style that tends to appear direct, candid, and straightforward, yet might also be perceived as abrasive and argumentative
• Average Interpersonal Sensitivity – A communication style that typically seems cooperative and friendly with a tactful approach to conflict, yet might also appear impatient with others’ shortcomings
• High Interpersonal Sensitivity – A communication style that seems diplomatic, friendly, and warm, yet might also be perceived as conflict avoidant and overly sensitive

Personality data can help us excel at cooperation at work. We work together best when we recognize when and how to use our own behavioral tendencies to achieve outcomes for the group.

Emotional Intelligence

Nearly every job in the world requires workers to interact with other people, whether they work in a coffeehouse, courthouse, or even lighthouse. Being considerate of others is a keystone of successful cooperation. 4 People who are positive, predictable, and sensitive toward others tend to perform very well at the job of getting along. 4

Robert Hogan, PhD, founder and president at Hogan Assessments, rightly observed, “Career success depends on the ability to successfully interact with others, build and maintain relationships, and manage one’s social environment.” In other words, successful workplace cooperation depends on emotional intelligence, which consists of socioemotional skills related to identifying and managing one’s own and others’ emotions. Emotional intelligence matters because emotion influences how we act and are perceived at work.

Getting along helps your group to get ahead—and, by definition, you get ahead too. Cooperation also provides additional organizational benefits, aside from merely achieving shared goals.

Benefits of Cooperation at Work

Among the many benefits of cooperation at work are individual status, acceptance by others, employee engagement, and team performance. We’ll look at how getting along relates to each benefit using our software development team example.

All groups have social hierarchies. In a team’s hierarchy, a person’s status is determined not only by job title but also by reputation. The director of technology may be nominally in charge of the software development team, but the project manager might actually be more effective at facilitating team cooperation, thus making them a more effective leader . Effective leaders persuade others to set aside their individual goals for the good of the team and are evaluated according to the team’s performance. 2 That is the Hogan definition of a leader—one who builds and maintains a high-performing team. A leader must leverage their reputation to achieve goals by means of a team’s work.

Successful leadership, then, depends on the ability to get along—to convince others to share goals and succeed or fail as a team. These critical socioemotional skills, including negotiation, affect whether someone attains a leadership role or leads effectively. To someone seeking power, status, and the control of resources ( the universal motive we call “getting ahead” ), cooperation also serves the pursuit of leadership. According to Dr. Hogan, “You can’t get ahead unless you can get along.”

Fulfilling our core human motivation for acceptance by others is one of the benefits of cooperation at work. Social acceptance leads to feelings of belonging and trust. Social exclusion causes pain and distress. 5 (Yes, it actually hurts.) When the senior software architects are getting along at work, each is more satisfied with their work life.

A sense of belonging at work built on mutual acceptance among group members is an important metric in the financial outcomes of organizations. Employees who feel accepted at work tend to perform better, stay employed longer, take fewer sick days, and recommend their company to others. 6 A company of 10,000 employees with a strong sense of belonging could save $52,000,000 per year through productivity and talent retention. 6

Cooperation also builds employee engagement , which is an attitude of enjoyment and interest toward work. Decades of engagement research prove that employee engagement raises quality and profitability, while reducing accidents, theft, and absenteeism. 7 Suppose a junior developer is struggling to get along with the other members of the software development team. That person could be counted among the 77% of global workers who aren’t engaged. 7 They would be much less likely to do their best work.

Performance

Groups that cooperate to achieve their goals succeed; groups that don’t can fracture and fail. In prehistoric warfare, the very survival of the group members depended on getting along. The software development team’s lives probably aren’t dependent on their ability to cooperate, but their livelihoods probably are. If they utterly fail to produce expected business outcomes, their organization’s survival could also be at risk. It’s not too much of an exaggeration to say that team productivity affects group survival.

As you may recall, effective leaders create teams of individuals who are committed to shared goals. Team performance , then, is incumbent on good leadership. And good leadership, in turn, relies on the ability to get along with others.

Personality Predicts Performance

The benefits of cooperation at work are many for individuals, teams, and organizations. Cooperation originates in human genetic history and continues to have a wide influence on global business outcomes. Organizations truly cannot survive without it. Lacking teeth and claws, we instead have social status, teamwork, and leadership to help us succeed.

So, how can we gain more understanding about how we tend to cooperate at work? The nature of human nature shows our innate impulse for cooperation in groups. “At a very deep level, people need social acceptance and respect,” Dr. Hogan said. “It is biologically mandated that you try to recruit people to support you.” Within our teams, our personalities indicate what behaviors we are likely to use to get along at work. Being calm, charming, compliant, curious, and more all contribute to our reputations and thus our prospects for getting along in any given group. That’s why we say at Hogan that personality predicts performance. Who we are determines how we cooperate.  

• Hogan, R. (2006). Personality and the Fate of Organizations . Routledge.
• Hogan, R., & Sherman, R. A. (2020). Personality Theory and the Nature of Human Nature. Personality and Individual Differences, 152 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.10956
• Hogan, R., & Blickle, G. (2018). Socioanalytic Theory: Basic Concepts, Supporting Evidence and Practical Implications. In V. Zeigler-Hill & T. K. Shackelford (Eds.), The SAGE Handbook of Personality and Individual Differences .Sage Reference, 110–129. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781526451163.n5
• Hogan, J., & Holland, B. (2003). Using Theory to Evaluate Personality and Job-Performance Relations: A Socioanalytic Perspective. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 88 (1), 100–112. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.1.100f
• Williams K. D. (2007). Ostracism. Annual Review of Psychology, 58 , 425–52. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085641
• Carr, E. W., Reece, A., Kellerman, G. R., & Robichaux, A. (2019, December 16). The Value of Belonging at Work. Harvard Business Review . https://hbr.org/2019/12/the-value-of-belonging-at-work
• Gallup Workplace. (2024). What Is Employee Engagement and How Do You Improve It? Gallup . https://www.gallup.com/workplace/285674/improve-employee-engagement-workplace.aspx

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Essay on Cooperation – Kind of Social Interaction

Essay on Cooperation – Kind of Social Interaction – ‘Cooperation’ is one of most basic, pervasive and continuous, social processes. It is the very basis of social existence. Cooperation generally means working together for the pursuit of a com­mon goal.

The term ‘Cooperation’ is derived from the two Latin words: ‘Co’ meaning together and ‘opera meaning to work. Literally, cooperation means joint work or working together for common rewards.

Definition:

1. Merrill and Eldredge:

‘Cooperation is a form of social interaction wherein two or more persons work together to gain a common end.’

Image Source: lenfisherscience.com

2. A. W. Green:

‘Cooperation is the continuous and common endeavour of two or more persons to perform a task or to reach a goal that is commonly cherished.’

3. Fairchild:

‘Cooperation is the process by which the individuals or groups combine their effort, in a more or less organised way for the attainment of common objective.’

Thus, cooperation is mutual working together for the attainment of a common goal. It implies a regard for the wishes, needs and aspirations of other people. It is often considered to be unselfish. But men may also find that their selfish goals are best served by working together with their fellows.

Cooperation may be found in groups as small as the dyad [group of two persons – Ex: husband and wife] and as large as the modern countries. People may cooperate for self-centered gain or for self- protection, or to do good to others. Groups may cooperate for self-advancement as in the case of a monopoly, for mutual protection, or for the welfare of all groups.

Cooperation requires sympathy and identification. We cannot have cooperation without the development of sympathy. Sympathy depends upon the capacity of an individual to imagine himself in the place of another, particularly when the other person is in difficulties.

Mutual aid is another name for cooperation. Cooperation is possible only when there is like mindedness, similarity of pur­pose, mutual awareness, mutual understanding, mutual helpfulness and selfless attitude.

Types of Cooperation:

Cooperation may be direct, or indirect, or it may be primary, secondary and tertiary in character.

1. Direct Cooperation:

Here, the individuals involved do the identical function. Ex.: Playing together, worshipping together, tilling the field together, taking out a cart from the mud, etc. People do work in company with other members. Performance of a common task with joint efforts brings them social satisfaction.

2. Indirect Cooperation:

In this case, people work individually for the attainment of a com­mon end. People here do unlike tasks towards a similar end. This is based on the principle of division of labour and specialisation.

For example, farmers, spinners, weavers, dyers, tailors are different people engaged in different activities. But their end remains the same that of producing clothes. The modern technological age requires specialisation of skills and functions. Hence it depends on co­operation.

3. Primary Cooperation:

Primary cooperation is found in primary groups such as family, neighbourhood, friends’ group, children’s play group and so on. Here there is an identity of ends. Every member works for the betterment of all. There is an interlocking identification of individuals, groups, and the task performed.

The group contains all or nearly all, of each individual’s life. The rewards for which everyone works are shared, or meant to be shared, with every other member in the group. Means and goals become one, for cooperation itself is a highly prized value.

4. Secondary Cooperation:

Secondary cooperation is the characteristic feature of the modern civilised society and is found mainly in secondary groups. It is highly formalised and specialised. Cooperation is not itself a value; attitudes are more likely to be individualistic and calculating.

Most members of the group feel some loyalty toward the group, but the welfare of the group is not their first consideration. Each performs his task, and thus helps others to perform their tasks, so that he can separately enjoy the fruits of his cooperation.

Each may work in cooperation with others for his own wages, salaries, promotions, profits and in some cases power and prestige. Such kind of Co-operation may be witnessed in political, economic, religious, commercial, educational and other groups.

5. Tertiary Cooperation:

Cooperation may be found between bigger groups also. It may be found between two or more political parties, castes, tribes, religious groups and so on. It is often called accommodation. The two groups may cooperate and work together for antagonistic goals.

Two political parties may work together in an attempt to defeat a third party. Still, one party may intend to seize power while the other to get sufficient public support. Similarly, the labour and management may work together for different ends.

Cooperation as a form of social process is universal and continuous. It has made our social life possible and livable. It surrounds us on all sides. It is both a psychological and a biological necessity and a social condition of man’s continued existence.

As MacIver and Page say, “Man cannot asso­ciate without cooperating, without working together in the pursuit of like or common interests”. C.H. Cooley says that cooperation arises only when men realise that they have a common interest. They cooperate because they have sufficient time, intelligence and self-control to seek this interest through united action.

Cooperation takes place under some conditions. As Young and Mack have said, cooperation requires first of all a motivation to seek a goal. Secondly, people must have some knowledge of the benefit of cooperative activity.

This requires some kind of education, for cooperation is not an in­born tendency. Thirdly, people must have a favourable attitude towards sharing both the work and the rewards involved. Finally, they need to equip themselves with the skills necessary to make the cooperative plan work.

Cooperation is so important in the life of an individual that according to Prince Kropotkin it is difficult for man to survive without it. He calls it mutual aid. In rearing of progeny and in the provi­sion of protection and food cooperation is inevitable.

The continuation of the human race requires the cooperation of male and female for reproduction and upbringing of children. Cooperation has its origin in the biological level. The principle of struggle for existence and survival is essentially the principle of cooperation.

Cooperation helps society to progress:

Progress can better be achieved through united action. Progress in science and technology, agriculture and industry, transport and communication, etc., would not have been possible without cooperation. Persons who cooperate may generate unbounded enthusiam.

It is the main spring of our collective life. It gives strength in union. It builds, it con­serves. In democratic countries, cooperation has become a necessary condition of people’s collec­tive life and activities. The growth of the role of cooperation is seen in the increase in the size of communities.

Cooperation is an urgent need of the present-day world:

It is needed not only among the indi­viduals, associations, groups and communities but also among the nations. It provides solution for many international problems and disputes. Since interdependence is widespread in all walks of life, cooperation is all the more needed. Society advances through cooperation and declines in its ab­sence.

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