Cited by 412Experimental Behavioral Economics StudiesSocial Power and Status DynamicsEvolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation

Social value orientation and cooperation in social dilemmas: a review and conceptual model

Bogaert, Sandy, Boone, Christophe, Declerck, Carolyn·2008·British Journal of Social Psychology

Abstract

Social psychologists have long recognized that people fundamentally differ with respect to their social value orientation (SVO), that is, self‐regarding versus other regarding preferences, and that these differences affect cooperative behaviour in situations of interdependence. In this paper, we systematically review the vast number of findings on SVO and cooperation, and synthesize the state of the art by presenting an integrated conceptual model that may explain why and when people with different social values select different behavioural strategies in social dilemmas. Specifically, building on goal/expectation theory and our review of the literature, we suggest that the relationship between SVO and cooperative behaviour is mediated by (1) a cooperative goal and (2) the specific expectations concerning alters' behaviour. We also propose that trust and goal alignment are important contextual moderators of this relationship: for prosocials, cues signalling trust are necessary to generate positive expectations regarding alters' behaviour, whereas proselfs need external incentives to align their personal interest with a cooperative goal. We conclude this review by pointing to several avenues for future research that would help to deepen our understanding of the role of SVO in human cooperation.

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Crossref · 10.1348/014466607x244970

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Authors
Bogaert, S., Boone, C., & Declerck, C.
Affiliations
University of Antwerp (BE)
Corresponding author
Bogaert, Sandy
Venue
British Journal of Social Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2008-09
Volume
47
Issue
3
Pages
453-480
ISSN
  • 0144-6665 (ISSN-L)
  • 2044-8309
OpenAlex
W2075654890
Cited by
412
References
105
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 15
FWCI
29.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • British Journal of Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
Keywords
social value orientation, cooperation, social dilemmas, prosocial preferences, trust, goal alignment, interdependence
MeSH terms
Attitude, Cooperative Behavior, Humans, Models, Psychological, Social Behavior, Social Environment, Social Values, Video Games

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