Conflict is ever present in human society, and we endeavour to better understand the psychological mechanisms and decisions behind this conflict. Further expanding on work of the attacker-defender...Show moreConflict is ever present in human society, and we endeavour to better understand the psychological mechanisms and decisions behind this conflict. Further expanding on work of the attacker-defender game (ADG), while employing a principal-agent system, we examine sanctioning behaviour in this paradigm. This research finds that there is significantly more positive sanctioning for successful outcomes compared to failed outcomes in the ADG, for both attack and defence (H1/2). In comparing sanctioning for attack and defence, a significant difference was observed, with more positive sanctions awarded to attack outcomes compared to defence outcomes (H3). Similarly, overall successful outcomes were significantly more positively sanctioned when compared to failed outcomes (H4). Finally, a low-level significant interaction in a 2 x 2 model was observed for attack, defence and successful, failed outcomes in the ADG (H5). This research sets the foundations for further examination of sanctioning behaviour on decisions in the ADG.Show less
The aim of this study was to investigate how principals sanction their agent’s attempts (attacker) at exploiting another party (defender) through attack, and whether sanctions are influenced by the...Show moreThe aim of this study was to investigate how principals sanction their agent’s attempts (attacker) at exploiting another party (defender) through attack, and whether sanctions are influenced by the outcomes of the agent’s contest decisions (win/loss and victory/no victory) and the principal’s social value orientation. The results showed that principals have higher sanction values (towards reward) when the outcomes of the attacker are win or victory (compared to loss and no victory). In addition, the results showed that principals have higher sanction values towards win outcomes, no matter if these outcomes are victory or not. There were no significant effects found of the social value orientation, which does not have an influence on the sanctioning behaviour. Altogether, this study deepens the understanding of sanctioning behaviour in humans in conflict situations where people perform actions for someone else who will in response receive a reward or punishment.Show less
