The Generation of Cooperation Through First Decisions

该奖项支持了一个为期两年的实验研究项目，该项目比较了在社会困境中选择合作还是表现自私的几种理论观点。（社会困境发生在公共产品，受制于“搭便车”，或利用他人的付款而不为公共利益做出贡献的情况下。）先前的研究表明，第一个决定是合作还是背叛是非常重要的，通常会为这种情况下的后续行为树立先例。利用社会心理学理论的背景和框架，预期效用理论或奖励，以及预期效益的前景理论，PI已经制定了一套对比假设的原则，支配第一决定。这些假设将在实验室实验中进行评估，允许在为公共利益做出贡献、不做出贡献或从公共利益中获取而不做出贡献之间做出选择。结果将用于发展对影响第一选择因素的理论理解。这些理论也应该对许多公共产品情况具有实际意义。

This award supports a two-year program of experimental studies comparing several theoretical perspectives on the choice to cooperate or to behave selfishly in a social dilemma situation. (Social dilemmas occur in cases such as public goods, subject to "free riding," or taking advantage of payments by others without contributing to the common good.) Previous research has shown that the first decision to cooperate or to defect is very important, usually setting a precedent for subsequent behavior in the situation. Drawing on social psychological theories of context and framing, expected utility theories or rewards, and prospect theories of anticipated benefit, the PI has formulated a set of contrasting hypotheses of principles governing first decisions. The hypotheses will be assessed in laboratory experiments allowing choices between contributing to a public good, withholding contribution, or taking from the public good without contributing. Results will be used to develop a theoretical understanding of factors influencing first choices. The theories should also have practical implications for many public good situations.