The Effect of Information Processing Mode on Cooperation in Social Dilemmas

How can individual difference in information processing promote cooperation in group interaction? In current study, two types of social dilemmas, give-some dilemmas and take-some dilemmas were compared and then explained from the perspective of information processing theory. It was proposed that the difference of cooperative levels between take-some and give-some dilemmas would disappear once people processed information in a rational way. Results confirmed the hypothesis. Results also showed that when participants processing information rationally were required to cooperate in a give-some dilemma, they engaged in more effort (in terms of reaction time and conflicting feeling) to balance their personal and collective interests.