Rational conformity behavior in social learning promotes cooperation in spatial public goods game

Ji Quan, Xu Dong and Xianjia Wang

Applied Mathematics and Computation, 2022, vol. 425, issue C

Abstract: Conformity behavior is crucial in human social learning and we consider this effect on spatial public goods game (SPGG). Two types of agents and two corresponding social learning rules are introduced in SPGG. One is link-type agents based on the rational conformity learning rule, whose strategies are independent in different groups. The other is node-type agents based on the Fermi learning rule, whose strategies are the same in different groups. Rational conformity behavior signifies that conformity only occurs when individuals are unsatisfied with their payoffs. Through simulation experiments, we find that cooperation can be induced constantly with a large proportion of link-type agents, in which situation rational conformity behavior in social learning is conducive to the emergence of cooperation. We further find that the independent strategies of link-type agents favor reciprocity to be enhanced among cooperative groups and the extended imitation range is beneficial to distinguish cooperative groups which also improves cooperation. Moreover, an appropriate payoff threshold is favorable to induce a positive correlation between payoffs and contributions, and thus a more reasonable distribution of payoffs and strategies. Meanwhile, the payoff threshold in the rational conformity learning rule is also contributed to diminishing the spread of defective behavior for those defectors with outstandingly high payoffs. These results expand our comprehension of individuals’ conformity behavior in social learning and its effect on cooperation in social dilemmas.

Keywords: Evolutionary game; Social learning; Rational conformity behavior; Cooperation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:apmaco:v:425:y:2022:i:c:s0096300322001813

DOI: 10.1016/j.amc.2022.127097

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