Cooperation and Conflict

Week 8, Monday

Psychology 360
Outline
I. Why cooperate?
II. Influences on cooperation
III. Conflict as a path to cooperation
Why Cooperate?
produce mutual benefit
accomplish tasks beyond the capacity of individuals
satisfy affiliative needs
A Simulation of Cooperation
two research directors with complementary data on a new discovery
both share -- each profits by $20,000
neither shares -- each loses $20,000 
if one shares -- the sharing director loses $60,000; the other director profits by $60,000
Payoff Matrix
Why is Cooperation Difficult?
function of rewards system, vis the “commons dilemma”
function of culture, vis Deming’s critique of U.S. society
The Commons Dilemma
farmers have common pasture for cattle
for each individual farmer it is rational to increase the size of the herd
for the collective this strategy is a disaster -- overgrazing exhausts the common pasture
U.S. versus Japanese Culture
Japanese society is collectivistic
concern about group outcomes
“the nail that sticks up gets pounded down”
U.S. society is individualistic
concern about personal outcomes
“the squeaky wheel gets the grease”
Conflict as a Path to Cooperation
Conflict may increase levels of cooperation:
when conflict brings out problems and new ideas
when conflict occurs within the context of superordinate goals
when mechanisms exist for managing conflict

Copyright © 1996, The Regents of the University of Michigan, All rights reserved.
Revised - November 4, 1996