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Conformist Preferences in Mixed-Motive Games

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  • Naef, Michael
  • Sontuoso, Alessandro

Abstract

We examine a novel class of conformist preferences which falls within the realm of belief-dependent motivations in that the peers’ expectations about others’ behavior may affect every group-member’s welfare. Similar other-regarding motivations, like guilt-aversion, have been inferred from evidence of a belief-behavior correlation but the issue of causality has been disputed. In examining conformism we propose a design that verifies the presence of the relevant causality direction while ruling out alternative other-regarding motivations. Our data reveal “self-servingly conformist” behavior in that subjects choose to match their strategy to the peers’ expectations when it is in their interest to do so.

Suggested Citation

  • Naef, Michael & Sontuoso, Alessandro, 2015. "Conformist Preferences in Mixed-Motive Games," MPRA Paper 66965, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:66965
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    Cited by:

    1. Pelligra, Vittorio & Reggiani, Tommaso G. & Zizzo, Daniel John, 2016. "Responding to (Un)Reasonable Requests," IZA Discussion Papers 10189, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    conformist preferences; consensus effects; belief-dependent utility; guilt aversion; social norms; trust;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior

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