The Behavioral Ecology of Human Foraging in an Online Environment: Of Omnivores, Informavores, and Hunter–Gatherers

Abstract

Lyle and Sullivan (2010) build on the psychological and neurophysiological motivations of filesharers by examining the role of collective action and within the framework of costly signaling theory. Despite the presence of a large number of non-reciprocating downloaders, known as lechers, as well as the risk of legal prosecution, ‘altruistic’ uploaders continued to provide collective digital goods. The authors hypothesized that file sharing on the Internet was an instrument and platform for individuals to compete for status among their peers because the network and its abundance of affordances allowed individuals to gain trust in taste and signal uniqueness.