Social Norms and Cooperation

A theoretical framework is introduced to model social norms using the tools of psychological game theory. In the Prisoner's Dilemma Game, a preference for norm compliance can lead to cooperation arising with a positive probability, and if this preference is sufficiently strong, occurring as a pure strategy equilibrium. Thus, cooperation can arise as a social norm in a one-shot Prisoner's Dilemma Game without repeated play, communication, or sanctions.