Date of Award
1970
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Vincent, Jack E.
Abstract
This experiment was an extension of the SMH, and Vincent-Tindell games. The major purpose was to investigate the effects of two different ratios of shock on escalation-de-escalation ancl other aspects of aggressive-cooperative behavior. In one condition (inequality) one player began game play with 6 shocks, the other player began with 18 shocks. In the other condition (equality) both players began game play with 13 shocks apiece. Players were allowed to purchase additional shocks or surrender any number of shocks. Forty-nine game play variables were generated, representing indices of aggressive or cooperative behavior. The relationships of these variables to additional independent variables such as game plan, grade point average, and attitudinal scores were also examined. The findings of this experiment indicate that the balanced (equality) conditions tend to generate more purchasing behavior and a higher overall level of aggression. The unbalanced (inequality) condition however, generated more extreme forms of behavior. Those with 18 shocks were generally more aggressive than all other players, and those with 6 shocks (inequality) were generally more cooperative than all other players. These findings conflicted with the results of the previous Tindell-Vincent game, but it seems that the addition of the purchasing option radically altered the effects of treatment condition. Sex was found to be a good predictor of game behavior. females were generally more cooperative and less active than males. Game plan and, to a lesser extent, attitude scores had predictive value for several responses, but grade point average, as expected, was a poor predictor of game behavior.
Extent
155 p.
Recommended Citation
Schwerin, Edward W., "Escalation - De-escalation: And Balance of Power" (1970). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 1970 - 1979. 14.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_2/14
Identifier
FA00012598
Comments
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1970.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters