Using Game Theory to Study the Evolution of Cultural Norms

2016/06/06 by Soham De, De, Soham, Dana S. Nau +3
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Computer Science and Game Theory (cs.GT) #Computers and Society (cs.CY) #FOS: Biological sciences #FOS: Computer and information sciences #FOS: Physical sciences #Multiagent Systems (cs.MA) #Physics and Society (physics.soc-ph) #Populations and Evolution (q-bio.PE) #cs.CY #cs.GT #cs.MA #physics.soc-ph #q-bio.PE

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1606.02570

16 pages

arxiv created 2017/03/16 · arxiv updated 2017/03/20

Abstract

We discuss how to use evolutionary game theory (EGT) as a framework for studying how cultural dynamics and structural properties can influence the evolution of norms and behaviors within a society. We provide a brief tutorial on how EGT works, and discuss what kinds of insights it can provide. We then describe three published studies in which we have developed EGT models that help explain how structural and external conditions in a society affect the emergence of social norms.

Related

• Understanding Norm Change: An Evolutionary Game-Theoretic Approach (Extended Version)
• Social Norms
• Evolutionary Game Theory: A Renaissance
• Cultural tightness and social cohesion under evolving norms
• Sociological limits and prospects of contemporary cultural evolutionary theory