Gossip Versus Punishment: The Efficiency of Reputation to Promote and Maintain Cooperation.

ABSTRACT: Prior theory suggests that reputation spreading (e.g., gossip) and punishment are two key mechanisms to promote cooperation in groups, but no behavioral research has yet examined their relative effectiveness and efficiency in promoting and maintaining cooperation. To examine these issues, we observed participants interacting in a four-round public goods game (PGG) with or without gossip and punishment options, and a subsequent two-round trust game (TG). We manipulated gossip as the option to send notes about other group members to these members' future partners, and punishment as the option to assign deduction points to reduce other group members' outcomes with a fee-to-fine ratio of 1:3. Findings revealed that in the four-round PGG, the option to gossip increased both cooperation and indi

SUBMITTER: Wu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4819221 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature