The Name of the Game: Predictive Power of Reputations Versus Situational Labels in Determining Prisoner's Dilemma Game Moves

Introduction

• Research Focus: Examining the influence of reputational assessments and the 'name' of the game on players' decisions in Prisoner's Dilemma (PD).
• Main Hypothesis: Situational labels (game names) significantly influence players’ decisions compared to reputational predictions.
• Studies: Three studies; two experimental (one with American students, one with Israeli pilots) and one supplementary questionnaire.

Background

• Prisoner's Dilemma (PD): A game where participants decide to cooperate or defect, influenced by altruistic or strategic motives.
• Psychological Insights: Understanding human behavior requires studying how people interpret situations.
• Construal: The way players perceive the game can greatly influence their choices.

Study 1: Reputations vs. Situational Labels

Participants

• 48 Stanford undergraduate men.

Procedure

• Phase 1: Dormitory RAs predicted players' likelihood to cooperate or defect.
• Phase 2: Participants played a seven-round PD game, labeled either as a 'Wall Street Game' or a 'Community Game'.

Results

• The game name had a significant effect on the decisions to cooperate or defect.
• Participants' reputational status was not predictive of their actual choices.
• Community Game: Higher cooperation rates.
• Wall Street Game: Lower cooperation rates.

Study 2: Replication with Israeli Pilots

Participants

• Israeli Air Force pilot trainees and their instructors.

Procedure

• Played a five-round PD game labeled as 'Bursa Game' (competitive) or 'Kommuna Game' (cooperative).

Results

• Game labels continued to influence decisions, with the Kommuna Game prompting more cooperation.
• Instructors' predictions based on reputations were inaccurate.
• Participants' expectations about counterpart's moves influenced their own moves.

Study 3: Lay Predictions

Method

• Participants made predictions about PD game moves for themselves and others under different game names.

Results

• Participants underestimated the impact of game names on behavior.
• Explicit contrasts of game names increased recognition of their impact, but still underestimated actual effects.

General Discussion

• Discrepancy in Predictions vs. Actual Outcomes: Predictions based on reputations were less accurate compared to situational labels.
• Person vs. Situation Debate: The studies highlight the power of situational construals over reputational assessments.
• Implications for Social Psychology: Reinforces the importance of subjective interpretations and situational labels in understanding behavior.

Conclusion

• Overall Findings: Situational labels can significantly influence behavior in game-theory contexts.
• Educational Implications: The results highlight the need to consider situational factors in educational and real-world settings.

References

• Cited works on PD games, psychological theories, and social psychology methodologies.