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Affective empathy in non-cooperative games

Author

Listed:
  • Jorge Vasquez

    (Smith University
    Group for Research in Applied Economics (GRAPE))

  • Marek Weretka

    (Group for Research in Applied Economics (GRAPE)
    University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Abstract
According to psychology, affective empathy is one of the key processes governing human interactions. It refers to the automatic transmission and diffusion of emotions in response to others' emotions, which gives rise to emotional contagion. Contrary to other forms of empathy, affective empathy has received little attention in economics. In this paper, we augment the standard game-theoretic framework by allowing players to affectively empathize. Players' utility functions depend not only on the strategy prole being played, but also on the realized utilities of other players. Thus, players' realized utilities are interdependent, capturing emotional contagion. We offer a solution concept for these empathetic games and show that the set of equilibria is non-empty and, generically, finite. Motivated by psychological evidence, we analyze sympathetic and antipathetic games. In the former, players' utilities increase in others' realized utilities, capturing unconditional friendship; whereas in the latter the opposite holds, resembling hostility.

Suggested Citation

  • Jorge Vasquez & Marek Weretka, 2020. "Affective empathy in non-cooperative games," GRAPE Working Papers 36, GRAPE Group for Research in Applied Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:fme:wpaper:36
    as

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    File URL: http://grape.org.pl/WP/36_VasquezWeretka_website.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yann Bramoullé & Rachel E Kranton, 2022. "Altruism Networks, Income Inequality, and Economic Relations," AMSE Working Papers 2202, Aix-Marseille School of Economics, France.
    2. Erita Narhetali & Magdalena Smyk & Marek Weretka, 2023. "Empathy in risky choices regarding others," GRAPE Working Papers 91, GRAPE Group for Research in Applied Economics.
    3. Jorge Vasquez & Marek Weretka, 2020. "Co-worker altruism and unemployment," GRAPE Working Papers 55, GRAPE Group for Research in Applied Economics.
    4. Vásquez, Jorge & Weretka, Marek, 2021. "Co-worker altruism and unemployment," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 224-239.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    affective empathy; emotional contagion; Interdependent utilities; non-paternalistic preferences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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