The interplay between cooperation and underlying conflict is inherent in all symbiotic relationships, be they in nature or human partnerships. Successful symbiosis requires careful management and adjustments to maintain benefits for all involved. Despite humans' cognitive abilities to understand and nurture these relationships, maintaining mutual benefits can still be challenging. This suggests that simply having intelligence is not enough to guarantee harmony in partnerships.

In lower organisms, where understanding and cognition are absent, mutualistic partnerships arise randomly and instinctively. These connections, although beneficial, lack the conscious awareness that humans might utilize to navigate their relationships. Thus, while these organisms engage in symbiosis, it reflects a blind adaptation rather than a strategic choice, highlighting the complexity of maintaining cooperative relationships in both human and non-human contexts.