When discussing human 'nature' and cooperation or competition,
consult Kropotkin's work on cooperation in animals, old but much
amplified more recently, and the extensive work on Prisoners' Dilemma
in game theory.
   The latter has much on repeated games and the 'tit-for-tat'
strategy, starting with trust and replying to betrayal with mistrust.
J-L may be able to amplify...

 Pet