Effects of explicit permissive rules on behavior patterns in a common resources situation

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effect of explicit rules that permitted the appropriation by temporal primacy or disuse in a situation with common resources, individual consequences, and differential exchange of earnings on the resource appropriation patterns. The experimental situation involves a typical structure of a non-renewable common resource dilemma. Twenty-four university students were randomly distributed into three experimental groups of four dyads exposed to two experimental conditions: with or without explicit rules. Participants worked on the same task but in different experimental cubicles without the possibility of establishing verbal exchanges. The cubicles enabled participants to be visually and verbally isolated from each other. However, they could observe their peers’ performance and take one or more resources to solve the task, obtaining differential earnings for their performance. Task points were exchanged for tangible prizes. Findings suggest that authorizing a specific mode of appropriation affects interindividual behavior patterns in appropriation. The temporal primacy rule favored the immediate depletion of resources and their accumulation. Instead, the disuse rule promoted delayed consumption and less accumulation. Results are discussed in terms of interindividual relationships in sanction contingencies established across explicit permissive rules.