This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by de Kwaadsteniet, E. W. Articles by De Cremer, D. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

`How Many of Us Are There?': Group Size Uncertainty and Social Value Orientations in Common Resource Dilemmas

Leiden University, KWAADSTENIET{at}fsw.leidenuniv.nl

Eric van Dijk

Leiden University

Arjaan Wit

Leiden University

David De Cremer

Tilburg University

In two studies, we investigate the effects of group size (un)certainty and social value orientations in common resource dilemmas. By focusing on this largely unexplored type of environmental uncertainty, we show that, in contrast to the often replicated finding that resource size uncertainty leads to over-harvesting in common resource dilemmas, group size uncertainty is not necessarily detrimental to the collective interest. Furthermore, we argue and show that whereas under group size certainty people base their individual harvests on the equal division rule, under group size uncertainty they base their harvests on their own social value orientations: whereas under group size certainty both proselfs and pro-socials harvest about an equal share of the common resource, under uncertainty prosocials show self-restraint in order to further their group's outcomes.

Key Words: group size uncertainty • social dilemmas • social value orientations • tacit coordination

Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, Vol. 11, No. 3, 387-399 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1368430208090649


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?