Experimental studies of interdependent mixed-motive games

Abstract

A multistage Prisoner's Dihuma ( W R ) game is presented as a paradigm for a special class of interdependeat mixed-moti~e coaflicte. The MPD game is composed of several PD subgames (comlicts) which are interconnected in the sense that each joint decision determines, in addition to the pay& for each player, the next subgame (cbafllct) to be played. Several experiments are reprted, using both male and female fluyere. The results show that players are aware of the delicate strategic considerations involved in the game and are aifected by &e strategy employed by the other player. When the game is perceived as an individual &cispan task, the percentep of cooperative behavior increases.A normative model for tbe MPD game is presented. Its failme to account for the observed results is discussed briefly. L?+4HE Prisoner's Dilemma (PD) is a two-T person, nonzero-sum, noncooperative game, in which noncooperative indicates no preplay communication between the players. A typical form of the game is represented by the payoff matrix in Table 1, subject to the following conditions: