Reluctance to initiate cooperation: the trade-off between effectiveness and hesitation in the sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma

Previous research suggests that initiating cooperation in a sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma fosters mutual cooperation. We hypothesized that sense of control, defined as the belief that one's cooperative decision will be reciprocated, plays a crucial role in fostering mutual coopera...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hirofumi Hashimoto, Kanako Naganobu, Kaede Maeda, Shigehito Tanida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Behavioral Economics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frbhe.2025.1449488/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850045722968195072
author Hirofumi Hashimoto
Kanako Naganobu
Kaede Maeda
Shigehito Tanida
author_facet Hirofumi Hashimoto
Kanako Naganobu
Kaede Maeda
Shigehito Tanida
author_sort Hirofumi Hashimoto
collection DOAJ
description Previous research suggests that initiating cooperation in a sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma fosters mutual cooperation. We hypothesized that sense of control, defined as the belief that one's cooperative decision will be reciprocated, plays a crucial role in fostering mutual cooperation. To test this, we conducted two experiments comparing three conditions. In the simultaneous condition, both players made their decisions at the same time. In the self-first condition, participants made their decisions first in a sequential setting. In the other-first condition, they made their decision after observing their partner's choice. The results indicate that initiating cooperation increases the likelihood of mutual cooperation. However, participants were reluctant to be the first to cooperate, despite its effectiveness. Our paper discusses these findings from a cross-cultural psychological perspective, highlighting potential differences in cooperative behavior across cultural contexts.
format Article
id doaj-art-ecb8a4941e1c483a8cd02e6bdabda0cd
institution DOAJ
issn 2813-5296
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Behavioral Economics
spelling doaj-art-ecb8a4941e1c483a8cd02e6bdabda0cd2025-08-20T02:54:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Behavioral Economics2813-52962025-04-01410.3389/frbhe.2025.14494881449488Reluctance to initiate cooperation: the trade-off between effectiveness and hesitation in the sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemmaHirofumi Hashimoto0Kanako Naganobu1Kaede Maeda2Shigehito Tanida3Graduate School of Literature and Human Sciences, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, JapanGraduate School of Literature and Human Sciences, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Psychology, College of Contemporary Psychology, Rikkyo University, Niiza, JapanFaculty of Human Studies, Taisho University, Tokyo, JapanPrevious research suggests that initiating cooperation in a sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma fosters mutual cooperation. We hypothesized that sense of control, defined as the belief that one's cooperative decision will be reciprocated, plays a crucial role in fostering mutual cooperation. To test this, we conducted two experiments comparing three conditions. In the simultaneous condition, both players made their decisions at the same time. In the self-first condition, participants made their decisions first in a sequential setting. In the other-first condition, they made their decision after observing their partner's choice. The results indicate that initiating cooperation increases the likelihood of mutual cooperation. However, participants were reluctant to be the first to cooperate, despite its effectiveness. Our paper discusses these findings from a cross-cultural psychological perspective, highlighting potential differences in cooperative behavior across cultural contexts.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frbhe.2025.1449488/fullcooperationsense of controlsimultaneous one-shot prisoner's dilemma gamesequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma gameself-reported willingness
spellingShingle Hirofumi Hashimoto
Kanako Naganobu
Kaede Maeda
Shigehito Tanida
Reluctance to initiate cooperation: the trade-off between effectiveness and hesitation in the sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma
Frontiers in Behavioral Economics
cooperation
sense of control
simultaneous one-shot prisoner's dilemma game
sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma game
self-reported willingness
title Reluctance to initiate cooperation: the trade-off between effectiveness and hesitation in the sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma
title_full Reluctance to initiate cooperation: the trade-off between effectiveness and hesitation in the sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma
title_fullStr Reluctance to initiate cooperation: the trade-off between effectiveness and hesitation in the sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma
title_full_unstemmed Reluctance to initiate cooperation: the trade-off between effectiveness and hesitation in the sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma
title_short Reluctance to initiate cooperation: the trade-off between effectiveness and hesitation in the sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma
title_sort reluctance to initiate cooperation the trade off between effectiveness and hesitation in the sequential one shot prisoner s dilemma
topic cooperation
sense of control
simultaneous one-shot prisoner's dilemma game
sequential one-shot prisoner's dilemma game
self-reported willingness
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frbhe.2025.1449488/full
work_keys_str_mv AT hirofumihashimoto reluctancetoinitiatecooperationthetradeoffbetweeneffectivenessandhesitationinthesequentialoneshotprisonersdilemma
AT kanakonaganobu reluctancetoinitiatecooperationthetradeoffbetweeneffectivenessandhesitationinthesequentialoneshotprisonersdilemma
AT kaedemaeda reluctancetoinitiatecooperationthetradeoffbetweeneffectivenessandhesitationinthesequentialoneshotprisonersdilemma
AT shigehitotanida reluctancetoinitiatecooperationthetradeoffbetweeneffectivenessandhesitationinthesequentialoneshotprisonersdilemma