The Role of Incomplete Information andOthers’ Choice in Reducing Traffic: a PilotStudy

• Main Authors: Angelo eRomano, Cristina O. Mosso, Ugo eMerlone
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2016-02-01
• Series: Frontiers in Psychology
• Subjects: cooperation; social comparison; Braess paradox; Traffic networks; Social processes
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00135/full

In this study, we investigate the role of payoff information and conformity in improving networkperformance in a traffic dilemma known as the Braess paradox. Our goal is to understand whendecisions are guided by selfish motivations or otherwise by social ones. For this purpose, weconsider the manipulation of others’ choice, public and private monitoring and information ondistribution of choices. Data show that when social comparison was not salient, participantswere more cooperative. By contrast, cooperativeness of others’ choice made participants morecompetitive leading to traffic and collective performance decrease. The implications of these findingsto the literature on social dilemmas are discussed.