Conflict between individual and common interest in an N-person relationship.

Abstract

Studied the selections of 147 undergraduates when faced with a choice between action which was (a) to S's short-term advantage, or (b) in the common interest. Various degrees of individual or common interest actions were manipulated. Choices were made in public, in groups of approximately 13 Ss. The frequency of cooperative choice was found to decrease with an increase in degree of individual interest and, to a marginal degree, to increase with an increase in degree of common interest. The correlates and implications of the Ss' mental task is proposed as a paradigm for a broad range of problems entailing socially responsible behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)