Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 219

International Conference on Psychology and Communication 2018 (ICPC 2018)

Social Dilemmas and Cooperation

A Mulyana, A Iskandarsyah , AGP Siswadi , W Srisayekti

Faculty of Psychology, Padjadjaran University, Jl. Raya Bandung Sumedang KM. 21
Sumedang 45363, Indonesia
Faculty of Psychology, State Islamic University Sunan Gunung Djati, Jl. A.H. Nasution
No.105 Bandung 40614, Indonesia
*[Link]@[Link]

Abstract
Social dilemmas is a situation where one’s must decide what action to take, whether to prioritize the

interests of others or personal. In this situation, one’s often experience conflict in determining the action
to be taken. One’s may cooperate by prioritizing the interests of others or choosing not to cooperate by

prioritizing personal interests. Cooperation is not easy to do because sometimes one’s put their personal
interests ahead of others in solving social dilemmas. Personal interests are usually more short-term

compared to the interests of others who are usually more long-term. Social dilemmas do not always

occur in individuals but can also be in groups. The choice of action that can be taken by these individuals

can be influenced by structural factors, psychological factors and dynamic interaction processes. Social
dilemmas can occur in various contexts faced by individuals. For example, environments, individual goals

in groups, energy conservation, blood donors, use of environmentally friendly vehicles, use of public or

private vehicles, bribery and so on. Social dilemma research in Indonesia is still rare. Therefore, research

opportunities related to social dilemmas are widely open.

Key words: Social Dilemmas, Cooperation

Copyright © 2019, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press. 1

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license ([Link]
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 219

INTRODUCTION Van Lange et al. (2013) states that the

The situations in which the individual definition given by Dawes (1980) still does not

has to decide which behavior will be taken include some other structure of interdependence

whether to benefit himself or the common good structures that can capture conflicts between

are called social dilemmas (Dawes, 1980, Dawes personal interests and collective interests.

& Messick, 2000, Kollock, 1998, Meleady, This definition also does not include the

Hopthrow, & Crisp, 2013; Van Lange, Joireman, time dimension because the outcome can be

Parks, & Van Dijk, 2013) . Dawes (1980) states immediate (short-term) or delayed (long-

that social dilemmas generally defined by 2 term). With that in mind, they formulates a new

things; 1) each individual receives a higher definition of social dilemma as a situation that

result when choosing to be different from involves a conflict between one’s short-term

non-cooperative than choosing to cooperate, personal interests and the group’s long-term

regardless of what others do, 2) everyone gets interests.

better results when all are working together Van Lange et al. (2013) suggests that

rather than non-cooperative. many of the world’s problems are occurring

Beside that, Dawes (1980) states that as a form of social dilemma because basically

there are two important factors that lead the social dilemmas situation is very varied,

one to show cooperation in social dilemmas such as forest destruction, littering, discipline

situations;, 1) individuals must think and strive in traffic, excessive exploration of natural

to understand the nature of the dilemma, so resources, private vehicles rather than public

that moral, normative, altruistic, and external transport, and so on. That is what makes social

concerns can influence behavior, 2) individuals dilemmas a study of a wide range of subjects.

must have reason to believe that others will not The social dilemma situation itself can occur

betray, on the other hand differences in results between individuals, individuals with groups,

will support betrayal no matter what others communities and even countries. Where there

do. Absolute results (no distinction from one is a difference of interest and is required to vote,

another) are more likely to allow individuals to it does not close the possibility in which there

cooperate. is a social dilemma situation (Van Lange et al.,

2013). Irwin & Berigan (2013) states that in

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 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 219

various studies of social dilemmas, cooperation when prioritizing the interests of others and
becomes a measurable solution of the situation. groups rather than personal interests. While

The social dilemma is used as the setting of the one is called uncooperative when prioritizing

situation, while cooperation is measured. The personal interests than the interests of others

solution to this dilemma requires cooperation, or groups. Cooperation is not an easy thing to

which requires that individuals forgo individual do because behind the common goal there is a

gains for the benefit of the group. personal goal owned by each individual. This

Cooperation defined as any action can lead to conflicts between individual and

intended to benefit others, regardless of collective needs (Dawes, 1980; Meleady et al.,

whether individuals also benefit in the process 2013; Van Lange et al., 2013). This distinction
(Van Lange, Balliet, Parks, & Van Vugt, 2014). between individual interests and collective

Sometimes cooperation is defined as giving or interests lies in the absence of cooperation.

contributing to collective needs and not utilizing Deutsch (1949) developed the theory
collective resources (Van Lange et al., 2013; of cooperation versus competitive. This
Van lange et al., 2014). Ratner (2007) explains theory is based on two ideas: First, it relates
that cooperation is generally defined as people to the type of interdependent state of affairs
working together, coordinating their actions, between the people involved in creating the
considering their actions and interests. More atmosphere. Secondly, the type of action taken
specifically means that people work toward a by the people involved. Then the basic type of
common goal that benefits the participants, and interdependence is identified in two ways: 1)
it expresses common interests that are featured positive, where the goal is connected in such a
in collective and coordinated action. way that the number or probability of achieving

Irwin & Berigan (2013) mentions that one’s goals, and 2) negatively correlated with

cooperation is a behavior in which individuals the number or probability of achieving another

forget the benefits gained for the good of the goal. In developing the theory, Deutsch

group. Based on several definitions previously assumes that team members work to advance

mentioned, cooperation is a behavior that puts their self-interest by striving to achieve their

the interests of others and groups rather than goals. However, the pursuit of self-interest does

personal interests. Someone is called cooperative not preclude the development of productive

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 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 219

relationships and teamwork. Deutsch argues RESULT AND DISCUSSION

that structured goals determine how people Social dilemmas occur everywhere

interact, and this pattern of interaction will around us, both in small and large scope,

determine outcomes (Johnson & Johnson, 1989; from family to country in the world in various

Johnson, Maruyama, Johnson, Nelson, & Skon, forms. In situations of social dilemma, people

1981; Stanne, Johnson & Johnson, 1999). is required to choose the behavior to be

This article was created to provide an overview undertaken, whether to follow his personal

of studies conducted in a social dilemma and interest or collective interest. The situation of

cooperation. With the explanation of this study social dilemmas occurs in many aspects such

is expected to provide clarity related concepts as energy conservation, blood donation and the

and research in social dilemma and cooperation. use of environmentally friendly vehicles (Attari,

Krantz & Weber, 2014), differences in individual

METHOD
goals in groups (Meleady et al., 2013), use of
This research is literature research by
private vehicles and public transport (Van Vugt,
looking for reference theory relevant to the
Meertens & Van Lange, 1995), environment
case or problems found. Library research or
(Irwin & Berigan, 2013) and corruption by
literature review is a study that examines or
bribery (Kobis, Van Prooijen, Righetti, & Van
critically reviews the knowledge, ideas, or
Lange, 2017). Van Lange et al. (2014) describes
findings contained in the body of academic-
some of the social dilemmas that may occur
oriented literature, and formulates its
around us; 1) environmental sustainability,
theoretical and methodological contributions
2) community resource management, 3)
to a particular topic . The focus of library
transportation and mobility, 4) politics, 5)
research is to discover the various theories,
international security, and 6) public health.
laws, propositions, principles, or ideas used
Moststudiesonsocialdilemmasuseexperimental
to analyze and solve the research questions
methods with games held in the laboratory. In
formulated. Furthermore, descriptive analysis is
this experimental game, participants are faced
done by describing regularly data that has been
with situations that are required to choose from
obtained, then given the understanding and
several options that indicate cooperative or
explanation in order to be understood.
defective (non-cooperative). There is a reward

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 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 219

matrix information that describes the results can be said is experiencing a decline in
participants can get (eg, money). cooperation. This is evident from the various

There are three things as a combined conflicts that occur in Indonesia and also so

function of structural influences, psychological easily the Indonesian society is influenced by

influences and dynamic interaction processes hoax. Hoax is very easily spread through social

that influence cooperative behavior in social media that can affect cooperation in Indonesia.

dilemmas (Van Lange et al., 2013; Van Lange Therefore, by conducting research related to

et al., 2014). Structural influences consist of social dilemmas and cooperation in Indonesia

reward, punishment and social death penalty, can illustrate how these variables develop in

asymmetries in resources, benefits and Indonesia with empirical evidence.

roles, uncertainty, and noise. Psychological

influences consist of social value orientation, CONCLUSION

trust, consideration of future consequences, In our study, we presented that social
others individual differences, decision dilemmas happen everywhere around us.

framing, priming, heuristics, and affect. In When a person faces a situation where he has to
dynamic interaction proses, thera are direct choose between collective and personal interest,
reciprocity, indirect reciprocity, locomotion, there is a social dilemma occur. The solution
communication, and support for structural to solve social dilemmas is cooperation.
solution. From several definitions already mentioned

Research on social dilemmas is in the introduction, it can be concluded that

common in many countries. Nevertheless, in cooperation is a behavior that puts the interests

Indonesia this research is still undiscovered. of others and groups (collective) rather than

From searching in DOAJ, there was only one personal interests. Someone is called cooperative

study of social dilemmas, about a critical review when prioritizing others and groups (collective)

of the social dilemmas theory. In fact, research interests rather than personaz l interests. While

on social dilemmas and cooperation has not one is called defective (non-cooperative) when

yet been discovered. Therefore, research on prioritizing personal interests than the interests

it is very wide open in Indonesia especially to of others or groups.

see the condition of Indonesia which currently

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 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 219

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