Indignation and the Evolution of Cooperation Norms

43 Pages Posted: 27 Jan 2020 Last revised: 17 Jul 2023

See all articles by Xueheng Li

Xueheng Li

Lingnan College, Sun Yat-sen University

Date Written: January 2, 2020

Abstract

This study examines the role of anger and indignation in upholding cooperation in society. I model indignation in a population psychological game and characterize the stochastically stable equilibrium in a noisy best-reply dynamic. Two results are obtained. First, indignation can sustain cooperation in the long run, irrespective of whether interactions are global or occur within a fixed local interaction structure. Second, mobility between communities promotes the emergence, growth, and persistence of cooperative communities. This leads to positive correlations among mobility, community size, cooperation, and the punishment of defectors. This study is among the first to apply stochastic stability to address the issue of multiple equilibria in psychological games.

Keywords: Social norms, cooperation, costly punishment, stochastic dynamics, stochastic stability, psychological game

JEL Classification: C73, D63, H41

Suggested Citation

Li, Xueheng, Indignation and the Evolution of Cooperation Norms (January 2, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3512872 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3512872

Xueheng Li (Contact Author)

Lingnan College, Sun Yat-sen University ( email )

GuangZhou, GuangDong
China

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