
Article Summary: Using Support Networks to Study Hamilton's Rule in Humans
This study focuses on whether or not Hamilton’s rule applies to humans. Hamilton’s rule suggests that individuals are more likely to altruistically help closer kin and, in turn, receive altruistic help from the same kin. While this rule has been well supported in animal subjects, data on humans has been lacking. Testing for altruism without causing any serious risk to participants proved difficult in many of the previous studies. Taking a different approach, Burton-Chellew et