Abstract

CAMACHO GUTIERREZ, Everardo. Social Interactions Under Contingencies of Cooperation and Competition: Supplementary or Substitute Behavior?. Rev. mex. anál. conducta [online]. 2012, vol.38, n.2, pp.22-38. ISSN 0185-4534.

Social interactions in pairs of children under contingencies of cooperation or competition were analyzed. History effects of cooperation and competition contingencies also were assessed. Twelve dyads of children were asked to solve a puzzle. The frequencies of occurrence of donating puzzle pieces, snatching the pieces, and violent behavior towards their peers were recorded under cooperation, competition, and free-play conditions. The dyads were exposed to unique treatment conditions (cooperation/cooperation and competition/competition) or mixed treatment conditions (cooperation/competition and competition/cooperation). Donating was most frequent during the cooperation condition, and snatching the puzzle pieces and violent behavior were most frequent during the competition condition. History effects were found during the mixed treatment conditions. The data are not consistent with the ''selfish rationality'' assumption (Santoyo, 1997). An alternative explanation in terms of referential substitution (Ribes & López, 1985) and reciprocity (Hake, Schmid, & Olvera, 1978; Hake & Schmid, 1981) is offered.

Keywords : cooperation; competition; contingency; interaction; dyads.