Impact on Cooperation of Altruism, Tenacity, and Need of a Resource

Abstract

This article analyzes, through a computer social simulation model (i.e., the SocLab framework), the complex interactions between altruism, tenacity, the need or the importance of a resource, in particular a common resource (stake), and the number of actors and their impacts on cooperation within a system of organized action. It contributes to better understand the tradeoff among these factors for strategic behavior. A free rider model is used, generating results that are general, applicable in diverse situations. Results indicate the following order of importance of the factors: altruism, stakes, tenacity, and number of actors, together with a strong interdependence between altruism and stakes. This article develops a methodology useful to improve the understanding of complex environmental and social problems introduced by the management of common resources by using a well-grounded theoretical and computational framework.