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PUBLIC CHOICE AND COOPERATION IN N-PERSON PRISONER'S DILEMMA

NCJ Number
56540
Journal
Journal of Conflict Resolution Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 469-481
Author(s)
J FOX; M GUYER
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
A FOUR-PERSON VERSION OF PRISONER'S DILEMMA, A GAME WHICH CAN HELP EXAMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GROUP SIZE AND COOPERATION AMONG PLAYERS, IS USED TO STUDY DECISIONMAKING UNDER VARYING DEGREES OF PLAYER ANONYMITY.
Abstract
A TOTAL OF 20 TEAMS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS WERE RECRUITED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA (CANADA) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 4-PERSON GAMES. THE TEAMS WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO ONE OF TWO EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS. IN THE PUBLIC-CHOICE CONDITION THEY COULD SEE EACH OTHER IN MIRRORS AND WERE INFORMED OF EACH OTHERS CHOICES. VARIOUS TRIAL RUNS WERE HELD IN WHICH THE EXPERIMENTER 'FORGOT TO INFORM' OF SOME CHOICES, INCREASING ANONYMITY. THE ANONYMOUS CONDITION SUBJECTS WERE NOT INTRODUCED TO EACH OTHER, WERE UNABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER DURING THE EXPERIMENT, AND WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE CHOICES OF OTHERS. THOSE IN THE PUBLIC-CHOICE CONDITION WERE ABOUT 12 PERCENT MORE COOPERATIVE. TABLES ANALYZE THE STUDY DATA IN TERMS OF POINTS AT WHICH CHOICES BECAME MORE COOPERATIVE AND TYPES OF COOPERATION. IT IS FOUND THAT A SUBJECT IS MORE WILLING TO SELECT A COOPERATIVE PATH FOLLOWING A TRIAL IN WHICH NONE OF THE OTHERS COOPERATE THAN AFTER A TRIAL IN WHICH SOME OF THE OTHERS COOPERATED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE SOCIAL REWARDS OF INITIATING A NEW BEHAVIOR ARE GREATER THAN THE SOCIAL REWARDS OF FOLLOWING AN ESTABLISHED PATTERN. OTHER STUDIES WHICH HAVE FOUND THAT ANONYMITY PRODUCES A LESSENING OF ONES PROPENSITY TO BEHAVE IN A SOCIALLY APPROVED MANNER ARE REVIEWED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)

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