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A Dual-Edged Sword: Empathy and Collective Action in the Prisoner's Dilemma

Author

Listed:
  • John A. Sautter

    (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

  • Levente Littvay

    (Central European University in Budapest, Hungary)

  • Brennen Bearnes

    (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Abstract

Researchers guided by evolutionary psychology have theorized that in an iterated prisoner's dilemma, reciprocal behavior is a product of evolutionary design, where individuals are guided by an innate sense of fairness for equal outcomes. Empathy as a prosocial emotion could be a key to understanding the psychological underpinnings of why and who tends to cooperate in a collective act. In short, why are some individuals more prone to participate in collective action? The authors test the hypothesis that a prosocial psychological disposition, stemming from self-reported empathy, will lead to group-oriented behavior in an iterated prisoner's dilemma game. Results suggest that an empathetic disposition does not lead to a higher rate of cooperation but interacts with environmental conditioning to produce either a highly cooperative or highly uncooperative personality type.

Suggested Citation

  • John A. Sautter & Levente Littvay & Brennen Bearnes, 2007. "A Dual-Edged Sword: Empathy and Collective Action in the Prisoner's Dilemma," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 614(1), pages 154-171, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:614:y:2007:i:1:p:154-171
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716207306360
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    References listed on IDEAS

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