What does this research mean for the field?

Individualism and collectivism mindsets have largely null effects on cooperation in indefinitely repeated prisoner's dilemmas, with cooperation instead being primarily reduced by higher defection payoffs. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether individualist and collectivist mindsets differentially affect cooperation rates between in-group and out-group members in repeated strategic interactions.

September 8, 2026Journal of Economic Behavior & OrganizationOpen Access

Do individualists and collectivists cooperate differently?

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Authors

AHAidin Hajikhameneh EKErik O. Kimbrough BSBrock Stoddard

Discussion

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Overview

Behavioral experiment uncovers null effects of cultural mindsets on cooperation across social groups, indicating economic incentives dominate cultural orientation.

Key Points

To determine whether individualist and collectivist mindsets differentially affect cooperation rates between in-group and out-group members in repeated strategic interactions.
Evaluated cooperation using indefinitely repeated prisoner’s dilemma (IRPD) games played with either in-group or out-group partners.
Assigned participants to either a Strong-Identity treatment (completing an in-group identity task prior to individualism/collectivism assessment) or a Weak-Identity treatment without the prior task.
Individualism and collectivism measures exhibited largely null effects on in-group versus out-group cooperation rates.
Higher defection payoffs produced consistent, significant reductions in cooperative behavior across conditions.
Strong-Identity treatment decreased defection primarily in groups demonstrating high cohesion during the initial identity-building task.

Cite This Study

Hajikhameneh et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd70a58e84d0ff5b457ff https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2026.107733

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September 8, 2026Journal of Economic Behavior & OrganizationOpen Access

Do individualists and collectivists cooperate differently?

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

AHAidin Hajikhameneh EKErik O. Kimbrough BSBrock Stoddard

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Behavioral experiment uncovers null effects of cultural mindsets on cooperation across social groups, indicating economic incentives dominate cultural orientation.

Key Points

To determine whether individualist and collectivist mindsets differentially affect cooperation rates between in-group and out-group members in repeated strategic interactions.
Evaluated cooperation using indefinitely repeated prisoner’s dilemma (IRPD) games played with either in-group or out-group partners.
Assigned participants to either a Strong-Identity treatment (completing an in-group identity task prior to individualism/collectivism assessment) or a Weak-Identity treatment without the prior task.
Individualism and collectivism measures exhibited largely null effects on in-group versus out-group cooperation rates.
Higher defection payoffs produced consistent, significant reductions in cooperative behavior across conditions.
Strong-Identity treatment decreased defection primarily in groups demonstrating high cohesion during the initial identity-building task.

Cite This Study

Hajikhameneh et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd70a58e84d0ff5b457ff https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2026.107733

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