Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2025
06:18
The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm
Published on: October 20, 2022
2.2K
Inequality and cooperation in social networks
David Melamed1,2, Brent Simpson3, Bradley Montgomery4
1Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. melamed.9@osu.edu.
Scientific Reports
|April 27, 2022
Summary
Social inequality impacts cooperation in dynamic networks. People cooperate more with wealthier partners, seeking richer connections and increasing overall system inequality.
Area of Science:
- Social sciences
- Network science
- Behavioral economics
Background:
- Social networks are crucial for human cooperation.
- Networks can create and perpetuate macro-level inequalities by structuring benefit flows.
- Understanding how inequality affects cooperation within dynamic networks is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of two aspects of inequality on cooperation within dynamic social networks.
- To determine how inequality shapes cooperative behaviors and network structural changes.
Main Methods:
- A crowdsourced experiment with 1080 participants.
- Analysis of cooperation patterns and network dynamics under conditions of inequality.
Main Results:
- Inequality alters cooperation distribution: individuals engage in more costly cooperation with wealthier partners to maintain valuable connections.
- Inequality influences network dynamics: participants tend to seek wealthier partners, leading to structural network changes.
- These processes collectively modify network structures and amplify system-level inequality.
Conclusions:
- Social networks are a double-edged sword, facilitating cooperation while also creating and sustaining inequality.
- Inequality within social networks drives behavioral changes that reinforce and exacerbate existing disparities.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay between social structure, inequality, and cooperation in human populations.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Equity Theory
5
Equity theory explains how our sense of fairness influences the dynamics of close relationships. Rooted in social psychology, the theory posits that individuals evaluate fairness by comparing the ratio of their contributions to the rewards they receive. Relationship satisfaction is highest when these ratios are perceived as balanced between partners, promoting mutual reciprocity and a sense of justice.Equity vs. Equality in RelationshipsEquity is distinct from equality. Fairness does not...
5
02:12Relationship Formation
41.4K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
41.4K
02:06Social Exchange Theory
35.8K
We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003).
35.8K
01:19Impact of Groups on Groups
17
Social psychologists analyze how groups influence one another, shaping social structures and interactions through both cooperation and competition. These dynamics manifest in various ways, ranging from economic partnerships to intergroup conflicts that shape societal structures and perceptions.Cooperation and Competition in Intergroup RelationsIntergroup relationships vary across contexts, sometimes fostering cooperation and mutual benefit while at other times leading to conflict and...
17
01:31In- and Out-Groups
40.3K
People all belong to a gender, race, age, and social economic group. These groups provide a powerful source of our identity and self-esteem (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and serve as our in-groups. An in-group is a group that we identify with or see ourselves as belonging to.
40.3K
01:30Social Relationships and Well-Being
11
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
11