EFFECTS OF CREDIBILITY AND MAGNITUDE OF PUNISHMENT ON COMPLIANCE TO THREATS

A modified Prisoner's Dilemma (PD) Game allowed a simulated partner (SP) to threaten Ss (45 male and 45 female undergraduates) with a loss of points if S noncomplied to the SP's verbal demand. Independent variables included 3 threat credibility levels (10, 50, and 90%), 3 punishment magnitude levels (5, 10, and 20 points), and sex of Ss. Compliance was a positive linear function of credibility. The highest punishment severity level elicited more compliance than either of the 2 nondiffering lower levels. There were no interaction effects. A Punishment + Sex interaction was found on delay of 1st testing the veracity of the threat. Males lied more than females when sending messages of intent. Ss in the highest credibility condition defected more than did Ss in the other credibility conditions. (15 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.