Disentangling material, social, and cognitive determinants of human behavior and beliefs

This paper investigates the interplay of material, social, and cognitive factors in shaping human behavior and beliefs during social interactions. Using an integrative mathematical model and a 35-day online behavioral experiment (Common Pool Resources game), the researchers directly estimate the weights of different factors influencing decision-making and belief dynamics. They find that personal norms and conformity with peers' actions have the most significant impact on decision-making, while material benefits and normative expectations have smaller effects. Messaging from an authority significantly alters the weights of these factors, decreasing the influence of personal norms and increasing conformity. Both cognitive and social factors are crucial in belief dynamics, with considerable individual variation impacting group behavior. The study highlights the importance of understanding the dynamic interplay of these factors for predicting social processes and designing effective policy interventions.

Denis Tverskoi, Andrea Guido, Giulia Andrighetto, Angel Sánchez, Sergey Gavrilets