Powering up with indirect reciprocity in a large-scale field experiment.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 110 Suppl 2: 10424-9, 2013 Jun 18.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23754399
ABSTRACT
A defining aspect of human cooperation is the use of sophisticated indirect reciprocity. We observe others, talk about others, and act accordingly. We help those who help others, and we cooperate expecting that others will cooperate in return. Indirect reciprocity is based on reputation, which spreads by communication. A crucial aspect of indirect reciprocity is observability reputation effects can support cooperation as long as peoples' actions can be observed by others. In evolutionary models of indirect reciprocity, natural selection favors cooperation when observability is sufficiently high. Complimenting this theoretical work are experiments where observability promotes cooperation among small groups playing games in the laboratory. Until now, however, there has been little evidence of observability's power to promote large-scale cooperation in real world settings. Here we provide such evidence using a field study involving 2413 subjects. We collaborated with a utility company to study participation in a program designed to prevent blackouts. We show that observability triples participation in this public goods game. The effect is over four times larger than offering a $25 monetary incentive, the company's previous policy. Furthermore, as predicted by indirect reciprocity, we provide evidence that reputational concerns are driving our observability effect. In sum, we show how indirect reciprocity can be harnessed to increase cooperation in a relevant, real-world public goods game.
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Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Comportamento Cooperativo
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Evolução Biológica
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Jogos Experimentais
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Modelos Biológicos
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
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Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article