Non-dilemmatic social dynamics promote cooperation in multilayer networks

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Bhaumik, Jnanajyoti, Masuda, Naoki
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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author Bhaumik, Jnanajyoti
Masuda, Naoki
author_facet Bhaumik, Jnanajyoti
Masuda, Naoki
contents Various theoretical and empirical studies have accounted for why humans cooperate in competitive environments. Although prior work has revealed that network structure and multiplex interactions can promote cooperation, most theory assumes that individuals play similar dilemma games in all social contexts. However, real-world agents may participate in a diversity of interactions, not all of which present dilemmas. We develop an evolutionary game model on multilayer networks in which one layer supports the prisoner's dilemma game, while the other follows constant-selection dynamics, representing biased but non-dilemmatic competition, akin to opinion or fad spreading. Our theoretical analysis reveals that coupling a social dilemma layer to a non-dilemmatic constant-selection layer robustly enhances cooperation in many cases, across different multilayer networks, updating rules, and payoff schemes. These findings suggest that embedding individuals within diverse networked settings -- even those unrelated to direct social dilemmas -- can be a principled approach to engineering cooperation in socio-ecological and organizational systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_00460
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Non-dilemmatic social dynamics promote cooperation in multilayer networks
Bhaumik, Jnanajyoti
Masuda, Naoki
Physics and Society
Populations and Evolution
Various theoretical and empirical studies have accounted for why humans cooperate in competitive environments. Although prior work has revealed that network structure and multiplex interactions can promote cooperation, most theory assumes that individuals play similar dilemma games in all social contexts. However, real-world agents may participate in a diversity of interactions, not all of which present dilemmas. We develop an evolutionary game model on multilayer networks in which one layer supports the prisoner's dilemma game, while the other follows constant-selection dynamics, representing biased but non-dilemmatic competition, akin to opinion or fad spreading. Our theoretical analysis reveals that coupling a social dilemma layer to a non-dilemmatic constant-selection layer robustly enhances cooperation in many cases, across different multilayer networks, updating rules, and payoff schemes. These findings suggest that embedding individuals within diverse networked settings -- even those unrelated to direct social dilemmas -- can be a principled approach to engineering cooperation in socio-ecological and organizational systems.
title Non-dilemmatic social dynamics promote cooperation in multilayer networks
topic Physics and Society
Populations and Evolution
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.00460