Question

for decades, behavioral economists cited the ultimatum game—where participants punish selfishness even at a personal cost—as evidence of an innate human sense of fairness. however, anthropologist joseph henrichs fieldwork with the machiguenga people in peru produced a striking anomaly: participants made low offers and accepted them without hesitation. these findings led henrich to argue that the cooperative behaviors often assumed to be hardwired are actually cultural adaptations to market integration.
6
mark for review
which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
a to discuss a specific case that substantiates the hypothesis that a certain economic behavior is biologically determined.
b to describe a new experimental protocol that corrects the statistical errors of previous economic studies.
c to present fieldwork findings that challenge the assumption that cooperative economic behaviors are innate rather than culturally shaped.
d to trace the historical development of a game theory model from its origins to its modern application.

Explanation:

• Option A: The text challenges the idea that economic behavior (cooperative) is biologically determined, not substantiate it. So A is wrong.
• Option B: The text is about fieldwork findings challenging a hypothesis, not a new experimental protocol correcting statistical errors. So B is wrong.
• Option C: The text presents Henrich's fieldwork with the Machiguenga people which shows their behavior (low offers accepted) is different from the Ultimatum Game's implication of innate fairness. This challenges the assumption that cooperative economic behaviors are innate and suggests they are cultural adaptations. So C matches the main purpose.
• Option D: The text is not about tracing the historical development of a game theory model. It's about challenging a hypothesis with fieldwork. So D is wrong.

Answer:

C. To present fieldwork findings that challenge the assumption that cooperative economic behaviors are innate rather than culturally shaped.