The framing of games and the psychology of play

Martin Dufwenberg; Simon Gächter; Heike Hennig-Schmidt

doi:10.1016/j.geb.2011.02.003

The framing of games and the psychology of play

Martin Dufwenberg
, Simon Gächter
, Heike Hennig-Schmidt

Economics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

296 Scopus citations

Abstract

Psychological game theory can provide rational-choice-based framing effects; frames influence beliefs, beliefs influence motivations. We explain this theoretically and explore empirical relevance experimentally. In a 2×2 design of one-shot public good games we show that frames affect subject's first- and second-order beliefs and contributions. From a psychological game-theoretic framework we derive two mutually compatible hypotheses about guilt aversion and reciprocity under which contributions are related to second- and first-order beliefs, respectively. Our results are consistent with either.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	459-478
Number of pages	20
Journal	Games and Economic Behavior
Volume	73
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geb.2011.02.003
State	Published - Nov 2011

Keywords

Framing
Guilt aversion
Psychological game theory
Public good games
Reciprocity
Voluntary cooperation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Finance
Economics and Econometrics

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10.1016/j.geb.2011.02.003

Cite this

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title = "The framing of games and the psychology of play",

abstract = "Psychological game theory can provide rational-choice-based framing effects; frames influence beliefs, beliefs influence motivations. We explain this theoretically and explore empirical relevance experimentally. In a 2×2 design of one-shot public good games we show that frames affect subject's first- and second-order beliefs and contributions. From a psychological game-theoretic framework we derive two mutually compatible hypotheses about guilt aversion and reciprocity under which contributions are related to second- and first-order beliefs, respectively. Our results are consistent with either.",

keywords = "Framing, Guilt aversion, Psychological game theory, Public good games, Reciprocity, Voluntary cooperation",

author = "Martin Dufwenberg and Simon G{\"a}chter and Heike Hennig-Schmidt",

note = "Funding Information: This paper is part of the MacArthur Foundation Network on Economic Environments and the Evolution of Individual Preferences and Social Norms. Support from the EU-TMR Research Network ENDEAR (FMRX-CT98-0238) and the University of St. Gallen Grundlagenforschungsfonds is gratefully acknowledged. Part of the research was done when Martin Dufwenberg visited Bonn University on a F.W. Bessel Research Award from the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation and part when he later on was supported by the NSF. Simon G{\"a}chter is grateful for the hospitality he enjoyed at the Institute of Advanced Studies at Hebrew University (Jerusalem) while working on this paper. We thank Christian Th{\"o}ni for very helpful research assistance. We are grateful for comments from Pierpaolo Battigalli, Colin Camerer, Gary Charness, Glenn Harrison, Eva Poen, Lisa Rutstr{\"o}m, Arthur Schram, Martin Sefton, Jean-Robert Tyran, Manuela Vieth, and many seminar participants. Finally, our thanks go to an anonymous referee for many helpful comments and suggestions.",

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language = "English (US)",

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N2 - Psychological game theory can provide rational-choice-based framing effects; frames influence beliefs, beliefs influence motivations. We explain this theoretically and explore empirical relevance experimentally. In a 2×2 design of one-shot public good games we show that frames affect subject's first- and second-order beliefs and contributions. From a psychological game-theoretic framework we derive two mutually compatible hypotheses about guilt aversion and reciprocity under which contributions are related to second- and first-order beliefs, respectively. Our results are consistent with either.

AB - Psychological game theory can provide rational-choice-based framing effects; frames influence beliefs, beliefs influence motivations. We explain this theoretically and explore empirical relevance experimentally. In a 2×2 design of one-shot public good games we show that frames affect subject's first- and second-order beliefs and contributions. From a psychological game-theoretic framework we derive two mutually compatible hypotheses about guilt aversion and reciprocity under which contributions are related to second- and first-order beliefs, respectively. Our results are consistent with either.

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KW - Guilt aversion

KW - Psychological game theory

KW - Public good games

KW - Reciprocity

KW - Voluntary cooperation

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The framing of games and the psychology of play

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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