An application of a dual-process approach to decision making in social dilemmas

This study compared psychological and behavioral responses in a take-some social dilemma with those in a give-some situation and suggested an explanation in terms of a dual process model. Participants facing the take-some dilemma exhibited a higher level of cooperation than those facing the give-some dilemma only in their first decision trial, and this effect was independent of our experimental manipulation of the information processing mode. Furthermore, once an experiential mode was induced, participants spent less time and experienced less conflict when making decisions in the take-some dilemma than in the give-some situations. The findings indicate that in social dilemmas the information processing mode has a stronger effect on psychological responses than on behavioral responses.