Annu Rev Psychol June 2013 PMID 22804772

Origins of human cooperation and morality.

Michael Tomasello, Amrisha Vaish

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Mentions

Peak: 9 in Mar 2021

across 5 sources since Aug 2012

Extended reach

190,466

potential audience

Total likes

2,051

Video views

71,549

Mentions per month

Aug 2012 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

X / Twitter60 posts
News14 articles
YouTube4 videos
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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The collective discourse primarily emphasizes the scientific understanding that morality evolved from social cooperation, citing research like Tomasello’s. Posts highlight this with phrases like 'morality is a form of cooperation' and references to peer-reviewed articles, demonstrating a tone of validation for scientific explanations over religious justifications, which underscores the moderate but meaningful influence of this discussion.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the idea that morality stems from natural social behaviors and evolution, with many referencing Tomasello's research and scientific perspectives.

InterestHigh interest

There is high interest shown, with many posts quoting scientific studies and engaging with complex ideas about human cooperation and morality.

EngagementModerate engagement

While some posts simply acknowledge the research, others actively debate, quote sources, and criticize religious explanations, indicating a moderate level of engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions seem to reinforce scientific explanations of morality, which could influence how people perceive the origins of moral behavior, though the overall impact appears moderate.

Abstract in brief

Human morality developed as a way for individuals to cooperate, which involves either suppressing personal self-interest or aligning it with others.
The research suggests that morality initially begins with a focus on specific relationships (second-person morality emphasizing sympathy and fairness) and later evolves into a broader social norm enforcement (agent-neutral morality).
Morality's development is influenced by both natural evolution—through skills and motives for cooperation—and by sociocultural factors that shape how these skills are learned and expressed over time.]

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All mentions

Origins of Human Cooperation and Morality Explained

Annual Reviews · Aug 9, 2012 48,300 views

Evolution and Development of Human Morality and Cooperation

Human morality developed to facilitate cooperation by balancing self-interest with social norms, initially rooted in specific relationships and evolving into broader societal principles, influenced by natural evolution…

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jojo ton cauchemar

@manisanmonkey · X

@RachBen68 @DubreuilhMarcel D'ailleurs : -https://t.co/r2TDDtaSMR -https://t.co/IPeMWRrnDM -https://t.co/vLR4VNbvbe Ces satanés Illuminati qui se basent sur un complot pour contrôler le monde, ces milliers de chercheurs et les milliers d'autres qui les aidents pour toutes les autres tâche tous dans le coup

Jul 17, 2025 · 2 likes · 120 followers View post →

jojo ton cauchemar

@manisanmonkey · X

@cristo_rey_12 @Dieu667Ekip @jaqloui21 @Kzar_Game La plupart rejette le viol et meurtre car la morale émerge de notre nature sociale et cognitive, indépendamment de croyances religieuses. La coopération et l’empathie favorisent la cohésion du groupe et le bien commun tout simplement

Jun 19, 2025 · 1 like · 120 followers View post →

Michael Israel

@Subcontrarian · X

@js_thrill @NoamChompers https://t.co/CYMbakSM6i

Sep 24, 2024 · 1 like · 392 followers View post →

Cezary Żekanowski

@CZekanowski · X

@SMOPMC People are inherently good. Young children show remarkable pro-social tendencies: https://t.co/Q8dvGda0OU It takes a lot of effort to replace innate empathy with the pursuit of profit at all costs, and feelings of friendship for all people with nationalistic aggression.

Aug 8, 2023 · 391 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@WhyWeFight2020 @PeteAlonSoCrazy LMAO. https://t.co/jitTuWzmtq

Apr 1, 2023 · 2 likes · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@yawaysoldier @Askwhyisit Homework time! https://t.co/jitTuWzmtq

Apr 1, 2023 · 1 like · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@Freedom4037 @don_julio6 @RFupdates This claim is false since science explains the source and evolution of morality (below). This still leaves you with zero moral authority, attempting to defend infanticide for revenge as objective morality. Still laughable. https://t.co/jitTuWzmtq

Mar 28, 2023 · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@sygarte @SoftwareEUG "doesn't fit" False. https://t.co/jitTuWzUiY

Feb 23, 2023 · 5 likes · 291 followers View post →

Cezary Żekanowski

@CZekanowski · X

@flugkind Young children and even infants demonstrate remarkable prosocial tendencies.” https://t.co/Q8dvGda0OU M.Tomasello, A.Vaish, Annu. Rev. Psychol. 2013.64:231-255. 1/3

Jan 14, 2023 · 391 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@Kdubtru If you were better read on the source of morality, you wouldn't be regurgitating failed apologetics. https://t.co/jitTuWzUiY

Jan 4, 2023 · 291 followers View post →

Atlantic AI Labs

@atlanticailabs · X

https://t.co/NPnilhtqbt

Jan 4, 2023 · 405 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@JohnColoradoSp1 @JacobHenry76 False. You should probably read more, and cut and paste bad apologetics less. https://t.co/jitTuWzmtq

Jan 1, 2023 · 2 likes · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@YoSoyRobertMera @AleMartnezR1 1/ Readers, here we have this tiresome apologetic regurgitated once again, i.e. morality against lying doesn't exist with a God that ordered infanticide. Let's help this poor fellow. https://t.co/jitTuWzmtq

Dec 18, 2022 · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@dhacker29 @deadtosin610 @autocorrect2_0 @signatureclassy @theone20211 @BiblicalBeauty 1/ You should probably read more, and post less. These tired old copy and paste apologetic is an absolute failure. https://t.co/jitTuWQXkY

Dec 7, 2022 · 291 followers View post →

Quabena Boateng

@QuabenaBoateng · X

RT @THHuxley1: @Landon10212 @iamAtheistGirl @pinkheretic Your morals don't mean anything because someone who must defend infanticide (1 Sam…

Nov 13, 2022 · 1 share · 535 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@niceblackdude https://t.co/jitTuWzUiY https://t.co/PBoLSwVy7B

Nov 13, 2022 · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@Landon10212 @iamAtheistGirl @pinkheretic Your morals don't mean anything because someone who must defend infanticide (1 Samuel 15:3) has no moral authority to tell others what is moral. Also, here is how our morality developed. https://t.co/jitTuWzmtq

Nov 13, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@CaptainSwing6 @pinkheretic The standards we developed through evolution. https://t.co/jitTuWzmtq

Nov 13, 2022 · 2 likes · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@Bishop_Sheen There. I just explained it. https://t.co/jitTuWzUiY

Nov 12, 2022 · 1 like · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@orna_verum Lol. We have our own. And it doesn't require an apologetic for infanticide. https://t.co/jitTuWzmtq

Oct 26, 2022 · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@ApoloJedi_ @Dash_023 1/ You again? lol. Take some time off. Read established peer-reviewed articles on morality. Stop reading religious nonsense. https://t.co/jitTuWQXkY

Oct 23, 2022 · 1 like · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@STRtweets 3. Evolution https://t.co/jitTuWzUiY

Oct 9, 2022 · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@Cross_Salvation @DrFrankTurek You've already shown your's is subjective. It's whatever an angry God wants when he wants it. Here's the source of morality for all humans: 1/ https://t.co/jitTuWzmtq

Aug 2, 2022 · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@L0neSpar1an False (1) https://t.co/jitTuWzmtq

May 30, 2022 · 1 like · 291 followers View post →

Giovanni vd Wielen

@GiovanniWielen · X

RT @Oliver_S_Curry: "from an evolutionary point of view, morality is a form of cooperation" – Michael Tomasello https://t.co/8gUbQTvvbL

Apr 28, 2022 · 5 shares · 6 followers View post →

Emilian Mihailov

@m_emilian · X

RT @Oliver_S_Curry: "from an evolutionary point of view, morality is a form of cooperation" – Michael Tomasello https://t.co/8gUbQTvvbL

Apr 27, 2022 · 5 shares · 623 followers View post →

Fernando Gaspar Dueñas

@fernandogaspar_ · X

RT @Oliver_S_Curry: "from an evolutionary point of view, morality is a form of cooperation" – Michael Tomasello https://t.co/8gUbQTvvbL

Apr 27, 2022 · 5 shares · 234 followers View post →

kindness.org

@kindness_org · X

RT @Oliver_S_Curry: "from an evolutionary point of view, morality is a form of cooperation" – Michael Tomasello https://t.co/8gUbQTvvbL

Apr 27, 2022 · 5 shares · 6,043 followers View post →

Filipe Nobre Faria

@filipefaria · X

RT @Oliver_S_Curry: "from an evolutionary point of view, morality is a form of cooperation" – Michael Tomasello https://t.co/8gUbQTvvbL

Apr 27, 2022 · 5 shares · 548 followers View post →

Oliver Scott Curry

@Oliver_S_Curry · X

"from an evolutionary point of view, morality is a form of cooperation" – Michael Tomasello https://t.co/8gUbQTvvbL

Apr 27, 2022 · 3 likes · 5 shares · 5,868 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@DaJimbo1 @B0nanzaDuke @itsbeyondbelief Asserting the same thing twice doesn't make it a demonstration of fact. Morality is a product of evolution. Here is peer-reviewed article that constitutes your first lecture. https://t.co/jitTuWzmtq

Apr 14, 2022 · 291 followers View post →

T.H. Huxley

@THHuxley1 · X

@GGFrangelico @iamAtheistGirl @fscinico @CaptainDadPool2 3/ ...But lets play with your red herring.. Your first sentence commits the fallacy of undesirable consequences. Since morality doesn't come from Yahweh, your last is irrelevant. https://t.co/jitTuWzmtq The Evolution of Morality - Evolution: Education and Outreach

Apr 9, 2022 · 291 followers View post →

Cezary Żekanowski

@CZekanowski · X

@BanginTweets_ @EPronizius "Young children and even infants demonstrate remarkable prosocial tendencies.” https://t.co/Q8dvGda0OU M.Tomasello, A.Vaish, Annu. Rev. Psychol. 2013.64:231-255.

Mar 11, 2022 · 1 like · 391 followers View post →

richardhod

@richardhod · X