The developmental origins of egalitarianism.

Stibbard-Hawkes and von Rueden argue that egalitarianism is best understood through process rather than outcome. We extend this by showing that the same inequalities and processes found in hunter-gatherer societies exist among children's peer cultures. This consistency, alongside early-emerging concerns for mutual respect, suggests egalitarianism may reflect foundational processes in social cognition, which particular ecologies and subsistence practices can refine.