Strategies for promoting cooperation: evaluation of behavioral and electrophysiological responses

• Grant number: 22/12939-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Physiological Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Sérgio Boggio
• Grantee: Ruth Izabel Vasconcelos Lyra Romero Espinosa
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (UPM). Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Social relationships are part of what defines us as humans. Forming groups is simultaneously an adaptive advantage of our species and the origin of many conflicts observed in our societies. The current project aims to understand how different groups interact and how we can promote cooperation between them. We then propose four experiments integrating methods of social psychology and neurosciences. Experiment 1 will evaluate intergroup relationships of minimal groups through the Ultimatum Game. Experiment 2 will evaluate three strategies to modulate the perception of an outgroup, identifying the best one which promotes more cooperative behaviors, namely: (i) signaling virtues, (ii) veil of ignorance, and (iii) Public Goods Game. The evaluation of which of these three strategies is more effective in reducing the ingroup bias will be through the Ultimatum Game. Experiment 3 will investigate the neurobiological bases of ingroup bias using the strategy selected in Experiment 2. Electroencephalography will serve as an implicit measure of outgroup perception. We will also investigate the relationship between favoring bias (Ultimatum Game) and changes in Event-Related Potentials - Medial Frontal Negativity (MFN) and Late Positive Potential (LPP). Experiment 4 will use the same modulation strategy selected in Experiment 1. However, to evaluate the intergroup relationship, we will collect data from participants affiliated with organized soccer fans, a group with a history of intergroup conflict. Thus, we expect to identify the most effective way to promote cooperation between different groups and the neurophysiological bases associated with this behavior. (AU)