Coevolution of actions, personal norms and beliefs about others in social dilemmas

Abstract Human decision-making is affected by a diversity of factors including material cost–benefit considerations, normative and cultural influences, learning conformity with peers external authorities (e.g. cultural, religious, political, organisational). Also important are dynamically changing personal perceptions the situation beliefs about actions expectations others as well psychological phenomena such cognitive dissonance social projection. To better understand these processes, I develop unifying modelling framework describing joint dynamics attitudes individuals their groupmates. consider which norms get internalised control others. predict that long-term average characteristics groups largely determined balance between payoffs values promoted authority. Variation around averages reflects variation in individual costs benefits mediated characteristics. The efforts an authority to change group behaviour certain direction can, counter-intuitively, have opposite effect on behaviour. how various can affect differences societies tightness/looseness norms. show most heterogeneity, societal threat, effects authority, degree collectivism/individualism, population size subsistence style. My results be useful for achieving understanding human historical current developing more efficient policies aiming modify