Applying Rational and Emotional Approaches to Message Crafting for Influencing Individuals’ Cooperative Behavior in Group Settings

The present study, based on Game Theory, investigates the effect of communication messages‎ on individuals’ willingness to cooperate in group settings. Existing literature suggests that different‎ approaches to the decision-making process can influence outcomes and shape individuals’ cooperative‎ behavior. Empirical studies have shown that external factors, including message framing and group‎ identity cues, can affect fairness oriented behavior and decision patterns. The study applied the Ultimatum‎ Bargaining Game to examine how rational versus emotional message framing, combined with in group‎ versus outgroup cues, influence cooperative decisions. A total of 122 university students were assigned ‎to four message conditions. The results revealed significant differences in the distribution of offers and‎ acceptance patterns across message models; however, mean offer sizes did not significantly differ between ‎rational and emotional conditions, nor between ingroup and outgroup conditions. These findings‎ suggest that message framing may influence the type of decisions individuals make, even when it does‎ not alter overall generosity levels. A more detailed analysis of behavioral patterns indicates that rational‎ models combined with ingroup cues elicit more fair and cooperative decisions. These results highlight‎ communication messages as potential mechanisms for shaping cooperative behavior in group settings.‎