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arXiv · 2509.24530

Game Theory to Study Cooperation in Human-Robot Mixed Groups: Exploring the Potential of the Public Good Game

Giulia Pusceddu·Sara Mongile·Francesco Rea·Alessandra Sciutti
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Abstract

In this study, we explore the potential of Game Theory as a means to investigate cooperation and trust in human-robot mixed groups. Particularly, we introduce the Public Good Game (PGG), a model highlighting the tension between individual self-interest and collective well-being. In this work, we present a modified version of the PGG, where three human participants engage in the game with the humanoid robot iCub to assess whether various robot game strategies (e.g., always cooperate, always free ride, and tit-for-tat) can influence the participants' inclination to cooperate. We test our setup during a pilot study with nineteen participants. A preliminary analysis indicates that participants prefer not to invest their money in the common pool, despite they perceive the robot as generous. By conducting this research, we seek to gain valuable insights into the role that robots can play in promoting trust and cohesion during human-robot interactions within group contexts. The results of this study may hold considerable potential for developing social robots capable of fostering trust and cooperation within mixed human-robot groups.

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Giulia Pusceddu, Sara Mongile, Francesco Rea, Alessandra Sciutti. 2025-09-29. Game Theory to Study Cooperation in Human-Robot Mixed Groups: Exploring the Potential of the Public Good Game. https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.24530

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