The issue of fairness in strategic interactions.

The main aim of this doctoral thesis is to examine the issue of fairness in strategic interactions. More specifically, the research here presented investigated, through three main experimental studies and the replication of one of them at the University of Leiden, whether previous “experiences” could affect decisions in strategic games, such as the Ultimatum Game (UG, Guth et al., 1982) and the Dictator Game (DG, Kahneman et al., 1986). Furthermore, it was investigated whether this hypothesized effect was mediated by the emotional reaction elicited by these previous experiences and/or by emotions and beliefs strictly related to the decisions. The theoretical framework, within which the three experimental studies (and the replication of the last one) have been conceived, have been examined and the most important theories about fairness in social decision-making have been presented. Afterwards, the studies will be described. The UG and the DG have been included in a wider framework of interaction between two players and a two-stage paradigm was used. It was investigated only the role of proposer, since the thesis focused on the factors leading people to make fair vs. selfish choices. In conclusion, the theoretical and practical aspects of the results obtained in the four experimental studies have been discussed.