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Psychological constraints on aggressive predation in economic contests
Carsten K W De Dreu1, Mauro Giacomantonio2, Michael R Giffin1
1Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Leiden University.
Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
|December 18, 2018
Summary
Humans with greater empathy and prosocial preferences engage in less aggressive competition. Deliberate decision-making also reduces conflict intensity, leading to greater personal wealth and less wasted resources.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Social Psychology
- Game Theory
Background:
- Human competition involves energy expenditure for offense and defense.
- The psychological underpinnings of exploitation and defense remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate psychological mechanisms influencing predatory attack and prey defense.
- Identify factors that restrain aggressive competition.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an incentivized economic contest game.
- Manipulated decision times and cognitive load.
- Measured investments in attack and defense strategies.
Main Results:
- Individuals competed less intensely when attacking versus defending; attacks frequently failed.
- Higher other-concern and empathy reduced attack frequency and forcefulness.
- Shorter decision times and cognitive taxation increased attack forcefulness, not frequency.
Conclusions:
- Prosocial preferences and deliberated decisions decrease conflict.
- Strengthening empathy and cognitive resources can mitigate conflict waste.
- Individuals with stronger prosociality and deliberation achieved greater personal wealth.
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