The effect of political ideology on norms of justice: an examination of game players' payoff preferences
Nicholson, Nigel Ronald
Nicholson, Nigel Ronald
item.page.creator
Citations
Altmetric:
Soloist
Composer
Publisher
Date
1985
Additional date(s)
Abstract
The present study examined motivational differences among experimental game players. Some motivational differences are known to vary systematically among players: previous coalition formation studies have found that female players are more likely to obtain equal payoff distributions than are their male counterparts. Surveys of political ideology have also found that females have more leftist values (i.e., they value equality more highly) than do males. The present study measured the ideological values of a sample of experimental game players and examined the relationship between ideological values and payoff distribution. Ideology was measured using both the Rokeach Value Survey bi-dimensional instrument and a uni-dimensional conservative/liberal scale. Ideology was found to correlate with obtained payoffs. Moreover, party affiliation also predicted payoff distribution: Republicans obtained significantly higher payoffs than did Democrats. Also, the uni-dimensional scale was found to provide a significantly better predictor of payoff than was the bi-dimensional instrument. It was further found that the two sexes did not differ significantly in obtained payoffs. Social values other than political ones were also measured. When completing a post-experimental questionnaire, the degree to which a subject recorded his or her desire to win at the game correlated positively with the amount of payoff that he or she obtained (i.e., the more subjects wanted to win, the more money they took). On the same questionnaire, the degree to which a subject recorded his or her concern for the feelings of the other player correlated negatively with the amount of payoff which he or she obtained (i.e., the more concern subjects felt for the feelings of the other player, the less money did they take). The author concluded that experimental game players will not necessarily seek to maximize their monetary payoffs in laboratory games, but rather that the amount of payoff they receive will, to an extent, reflect their social values and interpersonal orientations.
Contents
Subject
Subject(s)
Game theory
Games--Psychological aspects
Political psychology
Games--Psychological aspects
Political psychology
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Genre
Dissertation
Description
Format
vii, 97 leaves, bound
Department
Psychology