Experimental Games and Social Decision Making

Experimental games model situations in which the future outcomes of individuals and groups depend on their own choices and on those of other (groups of) individuals. Games are a powerful tool to identify the neural and psychological mechanisms underlying interpersonal and group cooperation and coordination. Here we discuss recent developments in how experimental games are used and adapted, with an increased focus on repeated interactions, partner control through sanctioning, and partner (de)selection for future interactions. Important advances have been made in uncovering the neurobiological underpinnings of key factors involved in cooperation and coordination, including social preferences, cooperative beliefs, (emotion) signaling, and, in particular, reputations and (in)direct reciprocity. Emerging trends at the cross-sections of psychology, economics, and the neurosciences include an increased focus on group heterogeneities, intergroup polarization and conflict, cross-cultural differences in cooperation and norm enforcement, and neurocomputational modeling of the formation and updating of social preferences and beliefs.

Automated summary

Experimental games simulate situations where future outcomes depend on individual and group choices, revealing neural and psychological mechanisms underlying cooperation. Recent developments focus on repeated interactions, partner control through sanctions, and selection of future partners, uncovering neurobiological underpinnings of key factors in cooperation such as social preferences, cooperative beliefs, signaling, reputations, and reciprocity. Emerging trends integrate psychology, economics, and neuroscience to explore group dynamics, intergroup conflicts, cross-cultural differences in cooperation, and computational modeling of social preferences.