Imitation under stress

Arbeitspapier

Imitating the best strategy from the previous period has been shown to be an important heuristic, in particular in relatively complex environments. In this experiment we test whether subjects are more likely to use imitation if they are under stress. Subjects play a repeated Cournot oligopoly. Treatments are time pressure within the task and distractions through a second task (a Stroop-task) that has to be performed as well and influences payment. We measure stress levels through salivary cortisol measurements and through measuring the heart rate. Our main findings are that time pressure and distraction can indeed raise physiological stress levels of subjects within our task. More importantly from an economic perspective, we can also observe a corresponding behavioral change that is indicative of imitation.

Angaben zum Objekt

• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Series: Discussion Paper Series ; No. 556

Klassifikation und Themen

• Klassifikation: Wirtschaft
• Thema: stress ; cortisol ; heart rate ; imitation ; experiment

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Ereignis: Geistige Schöpfung
• (wer): Buckert, Magdalena ; Oechssler, Jörg ; Schwieren, Christiane
• Ereignis: Veröffentlichung
• (wer): University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics
• (wo): Heidelberg
• (wann): 2014

Weitere Informationen

• DOI: doi:10.11588/heidok.00016531
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/127366
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-heidok-165312
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 10.03.2025, 11:43 MEZ