Linking Group Theory to Social Science Game Theory: Interaction Grammars, Group Subcultures and Games for Comparative Analysis

Tom R. Burns, Ewa Roszkowska, Ugo Corte and Nora Machado Des Johansson
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Tom R. Burns: Department of Sociology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala 75126, Sweden
Ugo Corte: Department of Sociology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala 75126, Sweden
Nora Machado Des Johansson: Lisbon University Institute (ISCTE), Lisbon 1649-026, Portugal

Social Sciences, 2017, vol. 6, issue 3, 1-36

Abstract: This article draws on earlier work in social system theorizing and analysis—in particular, the theory of social rule systems. On the basis of this foundational work, its aim is to systematically link theories of social groups and organizations, on the one hand, and social science game and interaction theory, on the other hand. Rule system theory has contributed to significant features of group theory and social science game theory. It is a cultural-institutional approach to conceptualizing group systems and games. We explore how groups and their particular games can be effectively described, analyzed, and compared—and their similarities and differences identified on a systematic basis. For illustrative purposes, we present a selection of several ideal types of groups: a military unit, a terrorist group, a recreational or social group, a research group, and a business entity, each of whom has a distinct rule configuration making for particular “rules of the game” and game patterns of interaction and outcome.

Keywords: social science game theory; interaction grammars; groups; games; rule configuration; rule system compatibility; structuring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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