Encouraging cooperation: revisiting solidarity and commitment effects in prisoners' dilemma games

Mulford, Matthew, Jackson, Jonathan ORCID: 0000-0003-2426-2219 and Svedsäter, Henrik (2008) Encouraging cooperation: revisiting solidarity and commitment effects in prisoners' dilemma games. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 38 (12). pp. 2964-2989. ISSN 0021-9029

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Abstract

Pre-play discussion consistently increases cooperation in dilemma interactions. Most explanations of this "cheap-talk" effect are based on either commitment or group solidarity effects. Because discussion about the upcoming dilemma allows participants to make promises and creates group solidarity, the 2 explanations are often confounded. This paper aims to clarify past results by having participants engage in an unrelated discussion prior to a dilemma interaction. We find that solidarity effects can be induced by minimal group categorizations, but are relatively weak. Discussions involving consequential but unrelated coordination tasks are shown to prime cooperative norms and increase cooperation with both in-group and out-group members. Our findings suggest that cheap talk may work for even cheaper reasons than previously thought.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/1185312...
Additional Information:	© 2008 The Authors
Divisions:	Methodology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Date Deposited:	27 Oct 2008 14:40
Last Modified:	01 Apr 2024 08:15
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/21533

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