Using Game Theory to Study the Evolution of Cultural Norms

TL;DR

This paper explores how evolutionary game theory can model the development of cultural norms, highlighting its ability to analyze societal influences on norm evolution through theoretical models and case studies.

Contribution

It introduces EGT as a framework for understanding cultural norm evolution and presents three models demonstrating societal impacts on social norm emergence.

Findings

Structural conditions influence norm development

External societal factors affect norm stability

EGT models explain diverse norm evolution scenarios

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.