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A note on empathy in games

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  • Grohn, Jan
  • Huck, Steffen
  • Valasek, Justin Mattias

Abstract

In this note we shall discuss a concept that – despite its prominence in both Hume (1739) and Smith (1759), its obvious relevance for social behavior, and its not so infrequent use in colloquial language – has never gained a foothold in economic theory: the concept of empathy. Specifically, we illustrate how some insights from the psychological literature on empathy can be incorporated into a standard utility framework, and demonstrate the potential interaction of beliefs and utility through the channel of empathy.

Suggested Citation

  • Grohn, Jan & Huck, Steffen & Valasek, Justin Mattias, 2014. "A note on empathy in games," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 383-388.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:108:y:2014:i:c:p:383-388
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2014.01.008
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    Cited by:

    1. Ramsza, Michal & Karbowski, Adam, 2016. "Imagine-self perspective-taking and Nash behavior," MPRA Paper 107832, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 19 May 2021.
    2. Vásquez, Jorge & Weretka, Marek, 2020. "Affective empathy in non-cooperative games," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 548-564.
    3. Kamas, Linda & Preston, Anne, 2021. "Empathy, gender, and prosocial behavior," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    4. Karbowski, Adam & Ramsza, Michał, 2017. "Imagine-self perspective-taking and rational self-interested behavior in a simple experimental normal-form game," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 8, pages 1-8.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Empathy; Belief formation; Preferences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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