Gossip and ostracism promote cooperation in groups
Introduction
1. Introducing the background and general idea about factors that facilitate cooperation
a. Reputation systems and cooperation
i. Past research has found that awareness of the possibility that one’s actions (reputation) can be communicated to others facilitates cooperation as the individual is less inclined to act selfishly ii. An individual’s reputation allows others to select those who are more cooperative and who might be better partners iii. An individual’s reputation also determines the amount of trust others should commit to the partnership
b. Gossip and cooperation
i. Past research found that gossip prevents exploitation between group members and facilitates “indirect …show more content…
Investigating gossip as a prosocial function
a. Awareness of the possibility of being gossiped about and ostracised by others influences levels of cooperation
i. Subjects contributed the most when playing in the Gossip-with-Ostracism game, and more when playing in the Gossip game than in the Basic game
2. Investigating relationship between gossip and cooperation
a. Positive or negative reputation strength influences partner selection
i. Subjects actively gossiped when playing in the Gossip game and Gossip-with-Ostracism game, and especially of those who were selfish in their contributions ii. Subjects whose contributions were judged as more selfish as compared to others in the group had a more negative reputation, which led to a higher chance of being ostracised by future group members
b. Ostracism influences subsequent levels of cooperation
i. Subjects who were ostracised increased their contributions in subsequent rounds
Additional analyses
1. Investigating the effect of ostracism on general public good versus individual earnings
a. Ostracism leads to smaller contributions to the overall public good, while individual earnings increased as the game progressed
2. Investigating the effect of increased contribution on the likelihood of participating in
Introduction
1. Introducing the background and general idea about factors that facilitate cooperation
a. Reputation systems and cooperation
i. Past research has found that awareness of the possibility that one’s actions (reputation) can be communicated to others facilitates cooperation as the individual is less inclined to act selfishly ii. An individual’s reputation allows others to select those who are more cooperative and who might be better partners iii. An individual’s reputation also determines the amount of trust others should commit to the partnership
b. Gossip and cooperation
i. Past research found that gossip prevents exploitation between group members and facilitates “indirect …show more content…
Investigating gossip as a prosocial function
a. Awareness of the possibility of being gossiped about and ostracised by others influences levels of cooperation
i. Subjects contributed the most when playing in the Gossip-with-Ostracism game, and more when playing in the Gossip game than in the Basic game
2. Investigating relationship between gossip and cooperation
a. Positive or negative reputation strength influences partner selection
i. Subjects actively gossiped when playing in the Gossip game and Gossip-with-Ostracism game, and especially of those who were selfish in their contributions ii. Subjects whose contributions were judged as more selfish as compared to others in the group had a more negative reputation, which led to a higher chance of being ostracised by future group members
b. Ostracism influences subsequent levels of cooperation
i. Subjects who were ostracised increased their contributions in subsequent rounds
Additional analyses
1. Investigating the effect of ostracism on general public good versus individual earnings
a. Ostracism leads to smaller contributions to the overall public good, while individual earnings increased as the game progressed
2. Investigating the effect of increased contribution on the likelihood of participating in