In a competitive online team game, Player A repeatedly obstructs Player B's progress, causing them to fail a mission. In the next match, Player B actively targets Player A, ignoring team objectives to ensure Player A is defeated. Player B's retaliatory action, which comes at a cost to their own and the team's success, is a clear example of negative reciprocity.

Google

Negative reciprocity is the social behavior of responding to perceived harm or unkindness with retaliation or punishment. It involves withholding cooperation or actively inflicting a cost on those who have acted unfairly or harmfully, serving as a mechanism to discourage defection and enforce social norms.

Negative Reciprocity

A supplier makes a low-quality delivery to a long-term client, violating their agreement. In response, the client, instead of just refusing the shipment, decides to terminate their multi-year contract and shares their negative experience with other potential clients in the industry. The client's actions go beyond simple rejection and serve to punish the supplier for their unfair behavior, illustrating negative reciprocity.

Learn Before

Related