ePrints

Designing a social policy initiative for greater cooperation: social dilemmas, behavioural game theory, motives, altruism and ethics

Lookup NU author(s): Dr John Lazarus

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.

Abstract

© Author 2023. Drawing on the experience of editing this special issue, I propose a method for developing the early stages of social policy interventions requiring cooperation, based on two phenomena foundational to approaching this challenge. I recommend that the first stage is methodological – the application of behavioural game theory – and that the second is analysis of a psychological process – the motivations of those involved. A potential third step is use of a toolbox of factors known to encourage cooperation that I discussed in my introductory article for the issue. Three further processes are important for social dilemma policy development: conditional cooperation, trust and feedback. I go on to discuss: the contrasting properties of selfish and altruistic motives for cooperating, particularly in terms of their sensitivity to influence; the long-term prospects for altruistically motivated cooperation; and ethical aspects of tackling societal dilemmas through bottom-up and top-down agents for change. Finally, I consider the current state of the relationship between behavioural science and social policy.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Lazarus J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Global Discourse

Year: 2023

Volume: 13

Issue: 3-4

Pages: 452-468

Online publication date: 22/11/2023

Acceptance date: 02/04/2018

ISSN (print): 2326-9995

ISSN (electronic): 2043-7897

Publisher: Bristol University Press

URL: https://doi.org/10.1332/20437897Y2023D000000023

DOI: 10.1332/20437897Y2023D000000023

Altmetrics

Share