Abstract
Objective. To explore the influences of discrete positive and negative emotions on cooperation in the context of a social dilemma game.Design. Two controlled studies were undertaken. In Study 1, 69 participants were randomly assigned to an essay emotion manipulation task designed to induce either guilt, joy or no strong emotion. In Study 2, 95 participants were randomly assigned to one of the same three tasks, and the impact of emotional condition on cooperation was explored using a repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma Game.Results. Study 1 established that the manipulation task was successful in inducing the specified emotions. The analysis from Study 2 revealed no significant main effects for emotions, in contrast to previous research. However, there was a significant effect for participants’ pre-existing tendency to cooperate (social value orientation; SVO).Conclusion. Methodological explanations for the result are explored, including the possible impact of trial-and-error strategies, different cooperation games and endogenous vs exogenous emotions.
Highlights
Post-hoc tests showed that participants in the guilt condition rated their
The condition specific items in the Essay Evaluation Measure (EEM) indicated that participants in the guilt condition reported their essays as involving self-blame at the time events occurred
Those in the control condition indicated that their account was accurate and those in the joy condition reported that their essays involved enjoyment
Summary
Methodology ParticipantsSixty-nine people took part in the study. All were students at the University of East London and ranged between 18 and 51 years of age (mean 22.62). 22 were male and 47 female. All were students at the University of East London and ranged between 18 and 51 years of age (mean 22.62). In return for participation they were offered an opportunity to enter a prize draw to win a £25 voucher. Both studies reported within this article were approved by the University of East London’s Review Board. In the control condition participants were asked to write about their “regular activities and schedule”, describing events neutrally. As a further incentive to participate and to encourage serious engagement in the study, participants were given the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win a £50 voucher. Interventions The same manipulation task was used as in Study 1, but with the small modification to the instructions described above
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