This study explores how strategic reciprocity and temporal discounting interact to influence animal cooperation (i.e. they must not discount too strongly, and they must implement some form of reciprocity). This study develops a technique to assess the strength of discounting within a cooperative situation, and uses this technique to study how the temporal organization of an interaction affects the intensity of discounting. These assessments provide the background necessary to directly test ideas about strategy-discounting interactions. The experiments use the techniques of operant psychology to test captive blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) in controlled payoff games. This study addresses basic questions about the organization of social behavior. Asking specifically, how the general problem of evaluating delayed benefits influences cooperation and selfishness. An understanding of animal social behavior, and the forces that shape it, will enlarge our understanding of human sociality by providing a basis for comparison and generalization.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH064151-03
Application #
6608002
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BBBP-1 (01))
Program Officer
Kurtzman, Howard S
Project Start
2001-07-16
Project End
2005-06-30
Budget Start
2003-07-01
Budget End
2004-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$111,375
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
555917996
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Stephens, David W; McLinn, Colleen M; Stevens, Jeffrey R (2006) Effects of temporal clumping and payoff accumulation on impulsiveness and cooperation. Behav Processes 71:29-40
Stephens, David W (2002) Discrimination, discounting and impulsivity: a role for an informational constraint. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 357:1527-37