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Social Value Induction and Cooperation in the Centipede Game
Briony D Pulford1, Eva M Krockow1, Andrew M Colman1
1Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|March 25, 2016
Summary
In Centipede game experiments, researchers found that players without induced social value orientations acted competitively, challenging the assumption of individualistic motivation in game theory. This suggests competitive drives significantly influence strategic choices.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Game Theory
- Social Psychology
Background:
- The Centipede game models cooperation and competition in repeated interactions.
- Previous research often assumes individualistic motivation in experimental games.
- The impact of induced social value orientations on game behavior is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate psychological factors influencing cooperation in the Centipede game.
- To determine if strategic choices in the absence of induced orientation are individualistic.
- To examine the interplay between trait and state social value orientations.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments using a 20-round Centipede game with monetary incentives.
- Anonymous and random re-pairing of players after each round.
- Measurement of trait social value orientation via questionnaire and induction of state social value orientation.
Main Results:
- Participants without induced orientation displayed moderately non-cooperative, competitive behavior.
- This competitive behavior resembled that of participants with an explicitly induced competitive orientation.
- Cooperative trait social value orientation predicted cooperation, while induced competitive orientation predicted non-cooperation.
Conclusions:
- The standard assumption of individualistic motivation in experimental games may be invalid.
- Competitive motivation significantly influences strategic decision-making in the Centipede game.
- Future game theory research should consider the role of competitive drives.
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