Abstract
An experiment by means of matrix-game was carried out in an attempt to examine how cooperative or competitive orientations would be settled down among group members aiming together an assigned goal. For this purpose such a matrix was designed as that a pair of numbers, the one representing a personal score with a red figure and the other indicating a score to be contributed to the group with a black figure, were written in its each cell by letting a sum of both numbers be the same throughout. The subjects were 60 male undergraduates who were divided into 20 groups consisting respectively of 3 members. These groups were further divided into 5 classes, being equal in numbers, corresponded respectively to the 5 different experimerltal conditions. For every group, each member played simultaneously the matrix-game with the experimenter by being cut off communications among members, and the outputs of 3 members were controlled by the experimenter at all times so as to provide necessary informations.
The main findings from this experiment are as follows:
1). In order to be led the group-oriented behaviors it seems necessary that the group outputs are known to have been inferior to the group goal. Nevertheless, if the inferiority is remarkable the self-oriented behaviors will turn out prevailing.
2). While, in a case where the group outputs are found near the goal, both behaviors, groupand self-oriented, will appear almost equally. However, when the superiority of the group outputs is evident, the competitive behaviors follow.
3). After the group-members make up their minds to do something together, the plan will be justfied insistently by each of them even when it seems irrational to him.
4). The members dissatisfied with their outputs inferior to the group goal will scarecely leave from the group, so long as the responsibility for the unpleasant result lies themselves.
