  We present an agent-based model that explores the relationship between
pro-family and prosocial behaviors and their impact on settlement formation.
The objective is to investigate how the technological level and various
constraints influence the transition from pro-family to prosocial behavior. The
model incorporates factors such as the specialization requirements of the
technology, societal tolerance, and dynamic interactions within a synthetic
population, where individuals have the choice to prioritize either their family
or their own settlement. Agents' fitness is determined by two components: the
proportion of pro-family agents within their family and the fraction of
prosocial agents in their settlement, as well as its size. Our findings reveal
that the transition from pro-family to prosocial behavior is driven by the
technological level, and the developmental requirements of the technology shape
the smoothness of this transition, ranging from abrupt to gradual. These
results emphasize the significance of considering the interplay between the
technological level, the nature of the technology, and cultural influences when
examining settlement patterns and the dynamics of pro-family and prosocial
behaviors in human societies.
