Question 1

In the study by Brechner (1977)of a tragedy of the commons dilemma in the laboratory,under what circumstances were participants most able to use the resource effectively?

Accepted Answer

Participants were most able to use the resource effectively when they were able to communicate with each other. The study found that when participants were able to communicate and coordinate their actions, they were able to avoid overuse of the common resource and achieve a sustainable outcome. This highlights the importance of communication and collaboration in resolving commons dilemmas.

Question 2

Jan is running a bake sale for the debate team.In order to make enough money for the whole debate team to go to the state championships,at least half of the team has to contribute baked goods for the sale.Jan runs the risk of facing a

Accepted Answer

Jan's situation is a public goods dilemma because the success of the bake sale (a public good for the debate team) depends on voluntary contributions (baked goods) from team members. If not enough members contribute, the team may not raise enough money, even though all members would benefit from the sale's success.

Question 3

From a purely economic perspective,which of the following options provides the most personal gain?

Accepted Answer

Option C, "You contribute nothing and other people give more than enough," provides the most personal gain from a purely economic perspective because you incur no cost while still benefiting from the contributions of others.

Question 4

The tragedy of the commons is an example of a ________ dilemma.

Accepted Answer

The tragedy of the commons is a situation in which individuals, acting in their own self-interest, deplete a shared resource, leading to its eventual degradation. This is a classic example of a replenishing resource management dilemma, where the challenge is to manage and sustain a resource that can be replenished if used wisely.

Question 5

The Alaska state government completely closed down the king crab fishing industry due to a replenishing resource management dilemma.What were the fishermen doing that caused the government to stop the fishing?

Accepted Answer

The fishermen were overfishing the crabs to the point of extinction, which led to a decline in the king crab population. As a result, the Alaska state government closed down the king crab fishing industry to allow the king crab population to recover.

Question 6

Sheepherders in New England grazed their animals on their own pastures in a conservative fashion,so that the grass could regrow and the grazing continue indefinitely.However,they overgrazed the common pastures,which resulted in the destruction of these areas.This problem became known as the

Accepted Answer

The overgrazing of the common pastures by the sheepherders in New England led to the destruction of these areas. This problem is known as the "tragedy of the commons."

Question 7

The tragedy of the commons dilemma

Accepted Answer

The tragedy of the commons dilemma continues to be a significant problem in modern society. This refers to the situation where individuals, acting in their self-interest, use a shared resource (such as land or water) without regard for the long-term consequences of their actions. This can lead to depletion or degradation of the resource, which ultimately harms everyone who depends on it. Examples of this include overfishing of ocean stocks, deforestation, and air pollution. While some progress has been made in addressing these issues through government regulation and community management, the problem persists in many parts of the world.

Question 8

Suppose that your town is planning to build a local community center,but does not have the necessary funds.If a minimum number of people contribute,the center will be built.However,if that happens,then others can "free-ride" and use the center without contributing.If too many people expect to "free-ride," the center will never be built.This is an example of a

Accepted Answer

This is a classic example of the public goods dilemma, where a good or service benefits everyone in a community, but contributions towards it are voluntary. Without a minimum number of contributors, the community center cannot be built, and even if it is, "free-riders" can still use it without contributing, leading to a potential breakdown in cooperation and a failure to maintain the center over time.

Question 9

According to your textbook,what is one of the leading causes of environmental destruction and conflict in the world?

Accepted Answer

Overpopulation is a leading cause of environmental destruction and conflict in the world. As the population grows, the demand for resources increases, leading to deforestation, pollution, and depletion of natural resources. The competition for resources can also lead to conflicts between different communities and nations.

Question 10

You are the owner of an area of open land.A group of ranchers comes to you and asks if you would be willing to let them graze their cattle on your land.You want to be helpful,so you agree.In order to prevent a tragedy of the commons and protect the health of your land,what should you do?

Accepted Answer

Holding weekly meetings with the ranchers and maintaining communication will ensure that everyone involved is aware of the state of the land and any potential problems. This will allow for collaboration on how to maintain the land and prevent overgrazing. This proactive approach will prevent a tragedy of the commons and maintain the health of the land. The other options, such as emphasizing competition or relying on the "invisible hand" of economics, may lead to overgrazing and the degradation of the land.

Question 11

A social dilemma where members of a community overuse public areas to the point of destroying them is known as the

Accepted Answer

The tragedy of the commons specifically refers to a situation where individuals act out of self-interest, depleting a shared resource beyond its capacity for renewal. In this case, members of the community are overusing the public areas to the point of destruction, which is a classic example of the tragedy of the commons. The rancher's dilemma involves a similar issue, but with regards to sharing grazing land, while the prisoner's dilemma pertains to decision-making in an individual vs. collective context. The invisible hand problem relates to the idea that the market can naturally lead to efficient outcomes without intervention, rather than a social dilemma regarding shared resources. Therefore, the best choice for this question is A, the tragedy of the commons.

Question 12

The self-serving psychological mechanisms that contribute to global social dilemmas

Accepted Answer

The self-serving psychological mechanisms that contribute to global social dilemmas were originally adaptive for life in small groups. These mechanisms, such as selfishness and competition, helped individuals survive and reproduce in smaller, close-knit communities. However, they can be detrimental in larger, more interconnected societies where cooperation is often necessary to solve global social dilemmas.

Answer: D
 The statement that self-serving psychological mechanisms are only present among individuals in capitalistic countries is incorrect. These mechanisms are universal and can be found in individuals from various cultures and economic systems. While capitalism may promote and reward individualistic behaviors, self-serving mechanisms have been observed in individuals from non-capitalistic societies as well.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a reason that social dilemmas are so difficult to solve?

Accepted Answer

Option D is not a reason why social dilemmas are difficult to solve. In reality, many people do care about protecting the environment but may struggle to balance that concern with other competing interests. Options A, B, and C are all valid reasons why social dilemmas are challenging to address.

Question 14

The ________ game involves a situation in which cooperation results in the largest mutual gain,but selfish actions by one person lead to negative consequences for another person.

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question is known as the prisoner's dilemma. It is a classic game theory example that highlights the tension between individual rationality and collective rationality. In this dilemma, both parties would benefit from cooperating, but due to the possibility of selfish actions by the other party, it often leads to both parties choosing to act selfishly, resulting in a negative outcome for both.

Question 15

Two friends are caught cheating on an exam.The professor talks to them separately and says to each that they can admit to cheating and go before the dean and say that their friend cheated,or they can keep quiet and their friend might go before the dean against them.The two friends are in a

Accepted Answer

The situation described is a classic example of the prisoner's dilemma. In this scenario, both friends have the option to keep quiet or blame their friend. The best choice for each individual is to blame their friend because they get the benefit of avoiding punishment and getting a better grade while their friend gets punished. However, if both friends blame each other, they both get punished. Therefore, the most logical choice for each friend is to blame their friend.

Question 16

The desire for immediate satisfaction and the desire to defend ourselves and valued others are

Accepted Answer

The desire for immediate satisfaction and the desire to defend ourselves and valued others are both instincts that helped our ancestors survive, but in large groups, they can contribute to global social dilemmas, such as the tragedy of the commons. Therefore, all of the above is the best choice.

Question 17

Overpopulation,destruction of the environment,and international conflict are examples of

Accepted Answer

Overpopulation, destruction of the environment, and international conflict are all examples of social dilemmas. Social dilemmas occur when individuals pursue their own self-interest, which can lead to negative outcomes for the group as a whole. In these situations, cooperation and collective action are needed to achieve the best outcome for everyone involved.

Question 18

A situation in which the whole group profits if some individuals contribute to the common good,but individuals can also profit by "free riding" off of others' contributions is a

Accepted Answer

The situation described is a public goods dilemma, in which a resource is available to everyone in the group, but not everyone contributes equally to its maintenance or preservation. This leads to the potential for "free riding," where individuals benefit from the resource without having to contribute to its upkeep. A classic example of this is a public park - everyone can use it, but it takes resources to maintain it. If everyone in the community contributes to that maintenance (e.g. through taxes), then the park can be maintained and enjoyed by all. However, if some individuals decide not to contribute, they can still use the park without having to pay for it, which can lead to the park falling into disrepair or closing altogether.

Question 19

A social dilemma is a situation in which an individual can profit from selfishness unless

Accepted Answer

A social dilemma typically involves a situation where individual interests conflict with collective interests. If everyone acts selfishly, the collective outcome is worse than if everyone cooperates, hence why everyone loses if all choose the selfish option.

Question 20

What is most frequently the result when population growth causes the destruction of local environments and food sources?

Accepted Answer

When population growth leads to the destruction of local environments and food sources, it often results in mass migration to more habitable areas as people seek better living conditions and access to resources.

Quiz 13: Social Dilemmas: Cooperation versus Conflict

In the study by Brechner (1977) of a tragedy of the commons dilemma in the laboratory,under what circumstances were participants most able to use the resource effectively?