Cognitive foundations of behavior in symmetrical and asymmetrical cooperations games: An economic and psychological approach

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sebastian Berger
• Subject Area: Social Psychology, Industrial and Organisational Psychology ; Economic Theory
• Term: from 2013 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 244493109

Understanding economic behavior of individuals and collectives is at the core of economic research. Both motivational as well as strategic elements of human social behavior have been thoroughly investigated in experimental economics. Within the last decades, social cognition research has developed the knowledge that human behavior can only be properly understood if information processes that underlie behavior are clear. Despite the importance of this psychological research with respect to economic topics, this knowledge has widely been ignored by economic research. The present research contributes to the investigation of cognitive foundations of economic behavior. By an interdisciplinary approach with methods from social psychology and experimental economics, this research addresses cognitive underpinnings of cooperation. Cooperation is of utmost importance when solving social dilemmas. Specifically, the role of intuitive decision making in symmetrical and asymmetrical cooperation games is addressed to establish knowledge about cognitive foundations of economic behavior.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Participating Institution: Stanford University; Department of Sociology
• Host: Professor Dr. Robb Willer