A time series analysis of behavior in a social dilemma

Abstract

Some aspects of the dynamic relationship between situational factors and subjects' behavior in a social dilemma were analyzed in a time series analysis of the data obtained from an experiment simulating the tragedy of the commons. In the experiment using 21 three-person groups, subjects shared a common forest, displayed on their computer screens, containing two to four trees. These trees grew in size and value as long as they were left intact, so that premature harvesting was not desirable. On the other hand, an individual subject could lose opportunities to harvest and make profits if other subjects harvested the trees before he/she did. Results of the experiment indicated: (1) the size of the forest did not have effects upon subjects' behavior, and (2) subjects' behavior in the groups which attained common prosperity were more sensitive to other members' behavior and the interaction between other members' behavior and the current situation than the subjects in other groups which failed to attain such common prosperity. © 1985, The Japanese Psychological Association. All rights reserved.