Prisoners' Dilemma is an unusual (which is to say rare) game, in that the utility of defecting is so large. This makes the only Nash equilibrium to defect.

But the vast majority of human interactions instead have a utility matrix like Maynard-Smith's Hawks/Doves... 1/4
2/4...This gives a Nash equilibrium where conflict is rare and collaboration common - most people don't spend most of their lives in conflict and never have, even in much more violent past ages.

Part of the cost (negative utility) of collaboration is the cost of communication...
3/4...As this cost has fallen throughout history conflict has fallen with it, as - as would be expected - the resulting Nash equilibrium moves further towards collaboration.

Verbal argument and physical conflict are not on a continuum in this context because the consequent...
4/4...costs of each, and the resources needed to pursue each, are different not only in degree, but in kind. Cheap ubiquitous communication leads to more verbal squabbling, but less actual fighting...
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