A reinforcement learning approach to explore the role of social expectations in altruistic behavior

Abstract While altruism has been studied from a variety of standpoints, none of them has proven sufficient to explain the richness of nuances detected in experimentally observed altruistic behavior. On the other hand, the recent success of behavioral economics in linking expectation formation to key...

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Main Authors: Rosendo Castañón, Fco. Alberto Campos, José Villar, Angel Sánchez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28659-0
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author Rosendo Castañón
Fco. Alberto Campos
José Villar
Angel Sánchez
author_facet Rosendo Castañón
Fco. Alberto Campos
José Villar
Angel Sánchez
author_sort Rosendo Castañón
collection DOAJ
description Abstract While altruism has been studied from a variety of standpoints, none of them has proven sufficient to explain the richness of nuances detected in experimentally observed altruistic behavior. On the other hand, the recent success of behavioral economics in linking expectation formation to key behaviors in complex societies hints to social expectations having a key role in the emergence of altruism. This paper proposes an agent-based model based upon the Bush–Mosteller reinforcement learning algorithm in which agents, subject to stimuli derived from empirical and normative expectations, update their aspirations (and, consequently, their future cooperative behavior) after playing successive rounds of the Dictator Game. The results of the model are compared with experimental results. Such comparison suggests that a stimuli model based on empirical and normative expectations, such as the one presented in this work, has considerable potential for capturing the cognitive-behavioral processes that shape decision-making in contexts where cooperative behavior is relevant.
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spelling doaj.art-50e2020fb02b4de481402120403e429d2023-02-05T12:11:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-01-0113111410.1038/s41598-023-28659-0A reinforcement learning approach to explore the role of social expectations in altruistic behaviorRosendo Castañón0Fco. Alberto Campos1José Villar2Angel Sánchez3IdEst AdvisoryInstituto de Investigación Tecnológica-Universidad Pontificia ComillasINESC TEC-Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and ScienceGrupo Interdisciplinar de Sistemas Complejos (GISC), Departamento de Matemáticas, Universidad Carlos III de MadridAbstract While altruism has been studied from a variety of standpoints, none of them has proven sufficient to explain the richness of nuances detected in experimentally observed altruistic behavior. On the other hand, the recent success of behavioral economics in linking expectation formation to key behaviors in complex societies hints to social expectations having a key role in the emergence of altruism. This paper proposes an agent-based model based upon the Bush–Mosteller reinforcement learning algorithm in which agents, subject to stimuli derived from empirical and normative expectations, update their aspirations (and, consequently, their future cooperative behavior) after playing successive rounds of the Dictator Game. The results of the model are compared with experimental results. Such comparison suggests that a stimuli model based on empirical and normative expectations, such as the one presented in this work, has considerable potential for capturing the cognitive-behavioral processes that shape decision-making in contexts where cooperative behavior is relevant.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28659-0
spellingShingle Rosendo Castañón
Fco. Alberto Campos
José Villar
Angel Sánchez
A reinforcement learning approach to explore the role of social expectations in altruistic behavior
Scientific Reports
title A reinforcement learning approach to explore the role of social expectations in altruistic behavior
title_full A reinforcement learning approach to explore the role of social expectations in altruistic behavior
title_fullStr A reinforcement learning approach to explore the role of social expectations in altruistic behavior
title_full_unstemmed A reinforcement learning approach to explore the role of social expectations in altruistic behavior
title_short A reinforcement learning approach to explore the role of social expectations in altruistic behavior
title_sort reinforcement learning approach to explore the role of social expectations in altruistic behavior
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28659-0
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