<P> Reciprocity dates as far back as the time of Hammurabi ( c. 1792 -- 1750 BC ) . Hammurabi 's code , a collection of 282 laws and standards , lists crimes and their various punishments as well as guidelines for citizens ' conduct . The code was formalized example that demanded the individual act in terms of the public interest . The `` eye for an eye '' principles in which the laws were written mirror the idea of direct reciprocity . For example , if a person caused the death of another person , the killer would be put to death : </P>
<P> Reciprocity dates as far back as the time of Hammurabi ( c. 1792 -- 1750 BC ) . Hammurabi 's code , a collection of 282 laws and standards , lists crimes and their various punishments as well as guidelines for citizens ' conduct . The code was formalized example that demanded the individual act in terms of the public interest . The `` eye for an eye '' principles in which the laws were written mirror the idea of direct reciprocity . For example , if a person caused the death of another person , the killer would be put to death : </P>
who created the idea that reciprocity is important for maintaining relationships
who created the idea that reciprocity is important for maintaining relationships
Hammurabi
Hammurabi