Essays on intentions and social preferences

This thesis presents three essays on social preferences and the influence of the intentions of another party. All studies investigate reciprocity and its relevance but do so in different strategical settings. In doing so, crucial factors for enhancing social relationships are determined and examined. \ud The first study examines the role of reciprocity during a bargaining process. It turns out that adopting too tough a bargaining stance can lead to worse outcomes. The second essay investigates complex 'revealed intentions' and finds that intention-based benevolence is more than just repaying another person’s generosity. Individuals also react to the other’s willingness to be vulnerable. The third essay emphasizes the role of beliefs on an agent’s evaluation of another’s intention. Our results indicate that individual differences in reactions to the other agent’s payoff expectations may not be driving the often found 'no-effect' of expectations on social behaviour