Presents study results examining behavior associated with preservation and destruction of slowly regenerating natural resources by using commons dilemma simulation games. Reports that neither environmental concern nor proenvironmental behaviors were related to commons dilemma performance. Concludes that cooperation and competition were better…

Laboratory simulations combine the strengths of lab experiments and field studies while avoiding many of their liabilities. They permit the emotional involvement, the time needed for development of norms and interlocked systems of interaction, and the broad range of variables typical of field settings, yet allow for experimental controls and…

Recounts an experiment where two groups of college students composed questions for a simulated quiz show and then answered each other's questions. They then answered questions comparing their performance with other groups. Proposes a social norm rather than attribution error explanation for the fact that groups consistently will underestimate…