'I'm cooperative, but you're greedy": Some cognitive tendencies in a commons dilemma.

Investigated the effect of 2 resource management outcome variables (personal and group) on 4 classic cognitive tendencies (fundamental attribution error, actor–observer effect, self-serving biases, and self-centered bias) assessed at the end of a commons dilemma simulation in which Ss harvested valued resources from a shared, replenishable pool. A fifth cognitive tendency (false consensus) was examined as a function of Ss' stated harvest intentions before the dilemma began. 171 undergraduates were assigned to 1 of 34 mixed-sex groups. The false consensus effect was apparent among heavy harvesters. Responsibility for outcomes was seen as more personal than situational for both self and others: the fundamental attribution error was strongly evident, but the reverse of the actor–observer bias was found. Harvesters took more than their proportional share of responsibility for the outcomes, yet they assigned even more responsibility to others. Light harvesters disclaimed responsibility for damaged commons when others harvested heavily; heavy harvesters took considerable responsibility for poorly managed commons. In sum, cognitive biases and tendencies were very evident and, as a whole, tended toward self-servingness, but did not always take their traditional forms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)