Consideration of others and consideration of future consequences predict cooperation in an acute social dilemma: an application to COVID-19

Abstract

Abstract In the Netherlands, the COVID-19 pandemic raised an acute social dilemma where citizens could decide whether to comply with the precautionary measures recommended by the government. This paper examines the role of consideration of others (COO) and consideration of the future in explaining cooperation in a social dilemma. Through an online survey (N = 1019), consideration of future consequences (CFC), COO and compliance with the precautionary measures were measured. The data were analyzed by means of Tobit regressions and ordinal logistic regressions. Results show that COO and CFC are both positively correlated with compliance with recommended precautionary measures. Moreover, COO and CFC-future do not interact, although they are positively correlated. Gender, age, perceived risk of COVID-19 infection for others, perceived compliance by others and opinion about government response to the pandemic also have a significant association with compliance. These findings emphasize the importance of COO as well as consideration of the future in the prediction of cooperation in social dilemmas.