Strong ties promote the evolution of cooperation in dynamic networks
Authored by David Melamed, Brent Simpson
Date Published: 2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2015.11.001
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Abstract
Research on the evolution of cooperation in networked populations has
assumed that ties are simply present or absent. Here we bring relational
sociological insights about the strength of ties to bear on the problem
of cooperation in dynamic networks. We argue that the value of ties
affects their strength, which in turn promotes cooperation. We evaluate
this argument with two studies. First, results from an agent-based model
are consistent with the logic of our argument and are robust across a
variety of initial conditions. Second, results from a controlled
laboratory experiment with human participants support the key
predictions. Across both studies we demonstrate that tie strength, operationalized as relationship duration, mediates the impact of tie
value on cooperation. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Tags
Social networks
behavior
emergence
Trust
Game
Prisoners-dilemma
Tit-for-tat
Weak-ties
Indirect
reciprocity
Strength